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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: 2197

A note on the effect of bottom currents on an ocean bottom seismometer A note on the effect of bottom currents on an ocean bottom seismometer

Two three-component ocean bottom seismometers and a current meter were deployed a few hundred meters apart on the southern Blake Plateau off the United States eastern coast to study the effect of near-bottom currents on the background noise level of seismometers. Although analysis of the data is limited somewhat by instrumental problems, the increase in current speed, which ranged from 2...
Authors
Anne M. Trehu

Use of strontium isotopes to constrain the timing and mode of dolomitization of upper Cenozoic sediments in a core from San Salvador, Bahamas Use of strontium isotopes to constrain the timing and mode of dolomitization of upper Cenozoic sediments in a core from San Salvador, Bahamas

The 87Sr/86Sr ratios and the activity ratios of 234U/238U and 230Th/238U have been measured in dolomites from a 168-m-deep core taken on the island of San Salvador, Bahamas. These data suggest two periods of dolomitization. The first episode dolomitized Miocene age sediments during the latest Miocene, and the second dolomitized the Pliocene portion of the core and was still active as...
Authors
Peter K. Swart, Joaquin Ruiz, Charles W. Holmes

Dolomitization in a mixing zone of near-seawater composition, Late Pleistocene, northeastern Yucatan Peninsula Dolomitization in a mixing zone of near-seawater composition, Late Pleistocene, northeastern Yucatan Peninsula

Patches of dolomite occur in cores of reefal limestone from the shallow subsurface on the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. This limestone accumulated during an interglacial high stand of sea level about 200,000 years ago. Dolomitization was preceded by freshwater diagenesis, including precipitation of sparry calcite cement, stabilization of Mg-calcitic skeletal fragments, and...
Authors
W. C. Ward, Robert B. Halley

Rippled scour depressions on the inner continental shelf off central California Rippled scour depressions on the inner continental shelf off central California

Side-scan sonar records taken during the recent Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment (CODE) show elongate, shore-normal rippled depressions of low relief on the inner continental shelf off central California between Bodega Bay and Point Arena. These features extend up to 2 km from the coast into water depths of up to 65 m. The proposed mechanism for their generation is storm-generated...
Authors
David A. Cacchione, David E. Drake, William D. Grant, George B. Tate

Spring sapping on the lower continental slope, offshore New Jersey Spring sapping on the lower continental slope, offshore New Jersey

Undersea discharge of ground water during periods of lower sea level may have eroded valleys on part of the lower continental slope, offshore New Jersey. Steep-headed basins, cliffed and terraced walls, and irregular courses of these valleys may have been produced by sapping of exposed near-horizontal Tertiary strata. Joints in Eocene calcareous rocks would have localized ground-water...
Authors
James M. Robb

Slope-stability analysis and creep susceptibility of Quaternary sediments on the northeastern United States continental slope Slope-stability analysis and creep susceptibility of Quaternary sediments on the northeastern United States continental slope

The continental slope off the northeastern United States is a relatively steep, morphologically complex surface which shows abundant evidence of submarine slides and related processes. Because this area may be developed by the petroleum industry, questions arise concerning the potential for further slope failures or unacceptable deformations and the conditions necessary to cause such...
Authors
James S. Booth, Armand J. Silva, Stephen A. Jordan

Magnetic properties of the Bay of Islands ophiolite suite and implications for the magnetization of oceanic crust Magnetic properties of the Bay of Islands ophiolite suite and implications for the magnetization of oceanic crust

Rock magnetic properties, opaque mineralogy, and degree of metamorphism were determined for 101 unoriented samples from the North Arm and Blow-Me-Down massifs of the Bay of Islands ophiolite complex, Newfoundland. The weathered and metamorphosed extrusive basalt samples have a weak, secondary magnetization arising from oxidation and exsolution of ilmenite of unknown origin. The initial
Authors
B. Ann Swift, H. Paul Johnson

Alternative diagenetic models for cretaceous talus deposits, Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 536, Gulf of Mexico Alternative diagenetic models for cretaceous talus deposits, Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 536, Gulf of Mexico

Talus deposits recovered from Site 536 show evidence of aragonite dissolution, secondary porosity development, and calcite cementation. Although freshwater diagenesis could account for the petrographic features of the altered talus deposits, it does not uniquely account for isotopic or trace-element characteristics. Also, the hydrologic setting required for freshwater alteration is not...
Authors
Robert B. Halley, B. J. Pierson, Wolfgang Schlager

delta18O variations in the Halimeda of Virgin Islands sands: evidence of cool water in the northeast Caribbean, late Holocene delta18O variations in the Halimeda of Virgin Islands sands: evidence of cool water in the northeast Caribbean, late Holocene

Halimeda segments from carbonate sands on the Virgin Islands platform have delta 18 O versus PDB isotopic values ranging from -0.3% to -1.3% (x = -0.9%). Modern Halimeda segments from the same area have a measured delta18 O ranging from -2.0% to -2.5% PDB (x = -2.15%), and the carbonate skeleton appears to have formed in isotopic equilibrium with the oceanic waters on the platform...
Authors
Charles W. Holmes

Bank margin environment Bank margin environment

No abstract available.
Authors
Robert B. Halley, Paul M. Harris, Albert C. Hine

High-porosity Cenozoic carbonate rocks of South Florida: Progressive loss of porosity with depth High-porosity Cenozoic carbonate rocks of South Florida: Progressive loss of porosity with depth

Porosity measurements by borehole gravity meter in subsurface Cenozoic carbonates of south Florida reveal an extremely porous mass of limestone and dolomite which is transitional in total pore volume between typical porosity values for modern carbonate sediments and ancient carbonate rocks. A persistent decrease of porosity with depth, similar to that of chalks of the Gulf Coast, occurs...
Authors
Robert B. Halley, James W. Schmoker

Sedimentology of Southwestern Roads region, U.S. Virgin Islands: origin and rate of sediment accumulation Sedimentology of Southwestern Roads region, U.S. Virgin Islands: origin and rate of sediment accumulation

Sand deposits on southern insular shelf of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, were investigated to determine their origin, environmental processes and accumulation rates. Sea-floor samples show that the sand has been derived (in situ) mainly from calcareous algae and molluscs. Zonation of the dominant sand producers is related to the present environmental setting; water depth has the...
Authors
Jack L. Kindinger, Ronald J. Miller, Charles W. Holmes
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