Sea-floor geology and character offshore of Rocky Point, New York

Poppe, L. J.; McMullen, K. Y.; Ackerman, S. D.; Blackwood, D. S.; Irwin, B. J.; Schaer, J. D.; Lewit, P. G.; Doran, E. F.

Abstract:

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been working cooperatively to interpret surficial sea-floor geology along the coast of the Northeastern United States. NOAA survey H11445 in eastern Long Island Sound, offshore of Plum Island, New York, covers an area of about 12 square kilometers. Multibeam bathymetry and sidescan-sonar imagery from the survey, as well as sediment and photographic data from 13 stations occupied during a USGS verification cruise are used to delineate sea-floor features and characterize the environment. Bathymetry gradually deepens offshore to over 100 meters in a depression in the northwest part of the study area and reaches 60 meters in Plum Gut, a channel between Plum Island and Orient Point. Sand waves are present on a shoal north of Plum Island and in several smaller areas around the basin. Sand-wave asymmetry indicates that counter-clockwise net sediment transport maintains the shoal. Sand is prevalent where there is low backscatter in the sidescan-sonar imagery. Gravel and boulder areas are submerged lag deposits produced from the Harbor Hill-Orient Point-Fishers Island moraine segment and are found adjacent to the shorelines and just north of Plum Island, where high backscatter is present in the sidescan-sonar imagery.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

98567

Citation Author:

Poppe, L. J.; McMullen, K. Y.; Ackerman, S. D.; Blackwood, D. S.; Irwin, B. J.; Schaer, J. D.; Lewit, P. G.; Doran, E. F.

Citation Contributing Office:

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

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Citation Language:

ENGLISH

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Citation LatN:

0411000

Citation LatS:

0410600

Citation LonE:

-0721900

Citation LonW:

-0722400

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HTML Document

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Citation Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Citation Series:

Open-File Report

Citation Series Code:

OFR

Citation Series Number:

2010-1007

Citation Search Results Text:

Sea-floor geology and character offshore of Rocky Point, New York; 2010; OFR; 2010-1007; Poppe, L. J.; McMullen, K. Y.; Ackerman, S. D.; Blackwood, D. S.; Irwin, B. J.; Schaer, J. D.; Lewit, P. G.; Doran, E. F.