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U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010–1100

Surficial Geology of the Sea Floor in Long Island Sound Offshore of Orient Point, New York


Summary

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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) are working on interpreting the sea floor along the northeastern United States. This report contains 11.6 km² of multibeam bathymetry and 6.1 km² of sidescan-sonar data from NOAA survey H11446, and sediment and photographic data collected from 26 stations during USGS cruise 2010-010-FA, conducted in April 2010, that are used together to delineate sea-floor features and sedimentary environments in an area of Long Island Sound offshore of Orient Point, NY. Sea-floor features prevalent in the study area include sand waves and boulders. Sand-wave asymmetry and scour around boulders show that net-sediment transport is toward the east in the eastern part of the study area and toward the west in the north, central, and western parts of the study area. Sediment and photographic data show the variability of the sea-floor surface, which ranges from sand to gravel and gravelly sediment. Bottom photography shows boulders are generally encrusted with hydrozoans, hydroids, seaweed, sponges, and anemones. Sandy areas are typically rippled, with shell debris and (or) gravel concentrated in the troughs.

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