Surficial geology of the sea floor in Long Island Sound offshore of Orient Point, New York
Open-File Report
2010-1100
By: K.Y. McMullen, L.J. Poppe, W. W. Danforth, D.S. Blackwood, J.D. Schaer, M.R. Guberski, D.A. Wood, and E. F. Doran
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Abstract
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) are working cooperatively to map and interpret features of the sea floor along the northeastern coast of the United States. This report presents multibeam bathymetry and sidescan-sonar data obtained during NOAA survey H11446, which was conducted in a 12-km2 area in Long Island Sound offshore of Orient Point, NY. In addition, sediment and photographic data from 26 stations obtained during a USGS verification cruise are presented. Overall, the sea floor slopes gently seaward, but topography is more complex in sand-wave and boulder areas, which are evident in the multibeam and sidescan-sonar data from the study area. Sand waves generally have north-south-oriented crests with 10- to 20-m wavelengths. Sand-wave asymmetry indicates eastward net sediment transport in the east and westward net sediment transport in the northern and western parts of the study area. Areas with boulders on the sea floor are typically hummocky and are part of a glacial moraine system. Boulders are typically encrusted with seaweed, sponges, and anemones as shown in the bottom photography.
Suggested Citation
McMullen, K., Poppe, L., Danforth, W.W., Blackwood, D., Schaer, J., Guberski, M., Wood, D., and Doran, E.F., 2011, Surficial geology of the sea floor in Long Island Sound offshore of Orient Point, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010-1100, HTML Page, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20101100.
ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Surficial geology of the sea floor in Long Island Sound offshore of Orient Point, New York |
| Series title | Open-File Report |
| Series number | 2010-1100 |
| DOI | 10.3133/ofr20101100 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | ENGLISH |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Contributing office(s) | Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center |
| Description | HTML Page |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |