By Aaron M. Turecek, William W. Danforth, Wayne E. Baldwin, and Walter A. Barnhardt

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey conducted a high-resolution geophysical survey within Red Brook Harbor, Massachusetts, from September 28 through November 17, 2009.  Red Brook Harbor is located on the eastern edge of Buzzards Bay, south of the Cape Cod Canal.  The survey area was approximately 7 square kilometers, with depths ranging from 0 to approximately 10 meters.  Data were collected aboard the U.S. Geological Survey Research Vessel Rafael.  The research vessel was equipped with a 234-kilohertz interferometric sonar system to collect bathymetry and backscatter data, a dual frequency (3.5- and 200-kilohertz) compression high-intensity radar pulse seismic reflection profiler to collect subbottom data, a sound velocity profiler to acquire speed of sound within the water column, and a sea floor sampling device to collect sediment samples, video, and photographs.  The survey was part of an ongoing cooperative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management to map the geology of the Massachusetts inner continental shelf.  In addition to inclusion within the cooperative geologic mapping effort, these data will be used to assess the shallow-water mapping capability of the geophysical systems deployed for this project, with an emphasis on identifying resolution benchmarks for the interferometric sonar system.