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Publications

The Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program publications are listed here. Search by topics and by year.

Filter Total Items: 2190

Ancient plate boundaries in the Bering Sea region Ancient plate boundaries in the Bering Sea region

Plate tectonic models of the Bering Sea suggest that the abyssal Bering Sea Basin is underlain by oceanic crust, a supposition supported by refraction and magnetic data. The oceanic crust is thought to be a remnant of the Kula(?) plate that was isolated within what is now the Bering Sea when the proto-Aleutian arc began to form between the Alaska Peninsula and Kamchatka in late Mesozoic...
Authors
M. S. Marlow, Alan K. Cooper, David W. Scholl, H. McLean

Spurs and grooves revisited: construction versus erosion, Looe Key Reef, Florida Spurs and grooves revisited: construction versus erosion, Looe Key Reef, Florida

Six of 12 core holes drilled at Looe Key Reef (24°37'18"N. 81°24'24"W) by a diver-operated coring device penetrated a spur and groove system. Drilling indicated that: (II the spurs and grooves formed over at least 5 m of carbonate reef sand: (2) the underlying Pleistocene surface is essentially flat and therefore could not control or initiate spacing of spurs or grooves; (3) only the...
Authors
E.A. Shinn, J.H. Hudson, Daniel M. Robbin, Barbara H. Lidz

Erosional channels on the shoreface of Nauset Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts Erosional channels on the shoreface of Nauset Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Many channels (1 to 3 m relief)_are located offshore of Nauset Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in water 4 to 18 m deep. The channels are oblique to the shoreline, are spaced approximately 260 m apart, and deepen seaward. The southern flank of each channel is rippled whereas the northern flank and interchannel areas are smooth. The origin of the channels is unknown. They probably formed...
Authors
S. W. Needell, William P. Dillon, H.J. Knebel

Morphology, distribution, and development of submarine canyons on the United States Atlantic continental slope between Hudson and Baltimore Canyons Morphology, distribution, and development of submarine canyons on the United States Atlantic continental slope between Hudson and Baltimore Canyons

The distribution and morphology of submarine canyons off the eastern United States between Hudson and Baltimore Canyons have been mapped by long-range sidescan sonar. In this area canyons are numerous, and their spacing correlates with overall slope gradient; they are absent where the gradient is less than 3°, are 2 to 10 km apart where the gradient is 3° to 5°, and are 1.5 to 4 km apart...
Authors
David C. Twichell, David G. Roberts

Stratigraphy, structure, absolute age, and paleontology of the upper Pleistocene deposits at Sankaty Head, Nantucket Island, Massachusetts Stratigraphy, structure, absolute age, and paleontology of the upper Pleistocene deposits at Sankaty Head, Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

The Sankaty Head cliff exposes drift of at least two glaciations and interglacial marine deposits. Radiocarbon, amino-acid- racemization, and uranium-thorium analyses were used to determine the absolute ages of the beds. The results indicate that 1) the Sankaty Sand correlates with oxygen-isotope stage 5 (Sangamonian), 2) the underlying drift is older than stage 5 (Illinoian or older)...
Authors
Robert N. Oldale, Page C. Valentine, T. M. Cronin, E.C. Spiker, B. W. Blackwelder, D. F. Belknap, J.F. Wehmiller, Barney J. Szabo

High-resolution seismic-reflection profiles from the R/V Columbus Iselin, cruise CI 7-78-2, over the continental shelf and slope in the Georges Bank area High-resolution seismic-reflection profiles from the R/V Columbus Iselin, cruise CI 7-78-2, over the continental shelf and slope in the Georges Bank area

In September 1978, the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected 5,029 km of single-channel seismic-reflection data from the Georges Bank area of the Atlantic Continental Shelf and Slope during the R/V COLUMBUS ISELIN cruise CI 7-78-2. The purpose of the cruise was to determine the location and frequency of mass sediment movement and other geologic hazards along the Continental Slope...
Authors
Norman G. Bailey, John M. Aaron

Environmental implications of test-to-substrate attachment among some modern sublittoral foraminifera Environmental implications of test-to-substrate attachment among some modern sublittoral foraminifera

Topographic highs on the outer continental shelf of New Jersey are sites for the concentration of three species of attached calcareous benthic foraminifera. Elphidium subarcticum Cushman, normally considered a vagrant species, cements itself by an organic film to one or more quartz grains. Webbinella concave (Williamson) attaches to quartz grains by secreting a flange-like calcite skirt...
Authors
C. Wylie Poag

3.5-kHz Data Collected in the Wilmington Canyon Area During 1980, Endeavor Cruise 80-EN-056 3.5-kHz Data Collected in the Wilmington Canyon Area During 1980, Endeavor Cruise 80-EN-056

During 1980, geophysical data were collected seaward of New Jersey in the vicinity of Wilmington Canyon on three cruises, GYRE 80-G-7B, GYRE 80-G-BB, and ENDEAVOR 80-EN-056 (discussed here). The objectives of these surveys of the Continental Slope and upper Rise, including Wilmington Canyon and the adjacent margin, were to extend existing geophysical coverage to the south of Wilmington...
Authors
B.A. McGregor

The memory of the accreting plate boundary and the continuity of fracture zones The memory of the accreting plate boundary and the continuity of fracture zones

A detailed aeromagnetic anomaly map of the Mesozoic seafloor-spreading lineations southwest of Bermuda reveals the dominant magnetic grain of the oceanic crust and the character of the accreting boundary at the time of crustal formation. The magnetic anomaly pattern is that of a series of elongate lobes perpendicular to the fracture zone (flowline) trends. The linear sets of magnetic...
Authors
Hans Schouten, Kim D. Klitgord

Temporal and spatial variations in suspended matter in continental shelf and slope waters off the north-eastern United States Temporal and spatial variations in suspended matter in continental shelf and slope waters off the north-eastern United States

Seston in waters of Georges Bank originates primarily from biological production and from resuspension of bottom sediments. The concentrations of suspended matter observed on the central shoals are more influenced by storms than by seasonal changes. Winter storms produce highest concentrations of non-combustible material throughout the water column, and summer storms appear to increase...
Authors
Michael H. Bothner, Carol M. Parmenter, John D. Milliman

Swash mark and grain flow Swash mark and grain flow

Swash marks composed entirely of coarse sand are commonly found on coarse-sand beaches. These swash marks are 10 to 30 centimeters in width and a few millimeters to one centimeter in height. Previous observations, mostly on finer-sand beaches, indicate swash marks are seldom over a few millimeters in height and are commonly composed of material readily floated by surface tension (e.g...
Authors
Sallenger
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