Comprehensive Geologic Mapping of the Inner Continental Shelf off the Delmarva Peninsula
The USGS has collected new geophysical data, seafloor grab samples, and video footage from the inner continental shelf off the Delmarva Peninsula as well as acquired and optimized NOAA and BOEM data.
This article is part of the June-July 2017 issue of the Sound Waves newsletter.
The USGS has collected about 10,000 kilometers of new geophysical data and 258 seafloor grab samples along with video footage at more than 200 bottom video stations to portray the geology and seafloor characteristics on the inner continental shelf off the Delmarva Peninsula.
Additionally, the USGS has acquired and repurposed existing NOAA hydrographic data and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Wind Energy Area geophysical data to optimize the design of this extensive survey to produce one of the most data-rich and aerially extensive (about 5,100 square kilometers) inner continental shelf studies on the U.S. Atlantic Coast.
The Delmarva Peninsula is a 220-kilometer-long headland, spit, and barrier-island complex located off the mid-Atlantic states of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia that was substantially affected by Hurricane Sandy. In response to Hurricane Sandy, the U.S. Department of the Interior funded an initiative to define the geologic framework of the Delmarva inner continental shelf and its role in coastal-sediment flux and vulnerability through geophysical mapping of its offshore areas. The Delmarva project provides baseline datasets and derivative interpretive maps that offer a geospatial framework for scientific research and provide critical information to planners and decision-makers who oversee the management of resources and mitigation of hazards in the coastal ocean. Bathymetric data are critical for developing surge models, whereas sub-sea floor data inform structural and geologic understanding.
These data and mapping products are needed for:
- Identifying sand and cultural resources;
- Delineating benthic habitat;
- Identifying shallow geohazards, such as natural gas and structurally weak sediment units;
- Evaluating and selecting optimal sites for offshore infrastructure placement; and
- Locating sites for offshore development and general marine planning.
These datasets will also contribute to improving our ability to identify coastal areas in the region that are most susceptible to effects of large storms and sea-level rise.
High-Resolution Geophysical data releases:
https://doi.org/10.5066/F7MW2F60
https://doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KK3
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141262
Read more about the Delmarva project at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/whcmsc/science/hurricane-sandy-response-linking-delmarva-peninsulas-geologic-framework.
Related
Hurricane Sandy Response- Linking the Delmarva Peninsula's Geologic Framework to Coastal Vulnerability
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Hurricane Sandy Response- Linking the Delmarva Peninsula's Geologic Framework to Coastal Vulnerability
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