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Sea-Floor Geology and Character Offshore of Rocky Point, New York

By L.J. Poppe,¹ K.Y. McMullen,¹ S.D. Ackerman,¹ D.S. Blackwood,¹ B.J. Irwin,¹ J.D. Schaer,² P.G. Lewit,² and E.F. Doran³

¹Coastal and Marine Geology Program, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA 02543
²Office of Coast Survey, NOAA, Norfolk, VA 23510
³Marine Operations Center–Atlantic, NOAA, Norfolk, VA 23510
⁴Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Hartford, CT 06106

ABSTRACT Gridded multibeam bathymetry and sidescan-sonar imagery together cover approximately 21.6 square kilometers of sea floor in eastern Long Island Sound offshore of Rocky Point, New York. Although originally collected for charting purposes during National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hydrographic survey H11251, these acoustic data, and the sea-floor sampling and photography stations subsequently occupied to verify them, (1) show the composition and terrain of the seabed, (2) provide information on sediment transport and benthic habitat, and (3) are part of an expanding series of studies that provide a fundamental framework for research and resource management (for example, cables, pipelines, and dredging) activities in this major East Coast estuary.

Posted August 2010 OFR2010-1007 For additional information contact: Director U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center 384 Woods Hole Road Quissett Campus Woods Hole, MA 02543 (508)548-8700 http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/ Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.

Suggested citation:

Poppe, L.J., McMullen, K.Y., Ackerman, S.D., Blackwood, D.S., Irwin, B.J., Schaer, J.D., Lewit, P.G, and Doran, E.F., 2010, Sea-floor geology and character offshore of Rocky Point, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010–1007, DVD-ROM. (Also available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1007/.)

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Setting

Methods

Bathymetry

Sidescan Sonar

Sediments Distribution

Bottom Photography

GIS Data Catalog

Summary

Acknowledgments

References

Contacts