Small-scale lacustrine drifts in Lake Champlain, Vermont

Journal of Great Lakes Research
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Abstract

High resolution CHIRP (Compressed High Intensity Radar Pulse) seismic profiles reveal the presence of two lacustrine sediment drifts located in Lake Champlain's Juniper Deep. Both drifts are positive features composed of highly laminated sediments. Drift B sits on a basement high while Drift A is built on a trough-filling acoustically-transparent sediment unit inferred to be a mass-transport event. These drifts are oriented approximately north–south and are parallel to a steep ridge along the eastern shore of the basin. Drift A, located at the bottom of a structural trough, is classified as a confined, elongate drift that transitions northward to become a system of upslope asymmetric mudwaves. Drift B is perched atop a structural high to the west of Drift A and is classified as a detached elongate drift. Bottom current depositional control was investigated using Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) located across Drift A. Sediment cores were taken at the crest and at the edges of the Drift A and were dated. Drift source, deposition, and evolution show that these drifts are formed by a water column shear with the highest deposition occurring along its crest and western flank and began developing circa 8700–8800 year BP.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Small-scale lacustrine drifts in Lake Champlain, Vermont
Series title Journal of Great Lakes Research
DOI 10.1016/j.jglr.2011.05.004
Volume 38
Issue Supplement 1
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Eastern Geographic Science Center
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Journal of Great Lakes Research
First page 88
Last page 100
Country United States
State Vermont
Other Geospatial Lake Champlain
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