Abstract:
The northeastern North Carolina coastal system, from False Cape, Virginia, to Cape Lookout, North Carolina, has been studied by a cooperative research program that mapped the Quaternary geologic framework of the estuaries, barrier islands, and inner continental shelf. This information provides a basis to understand the linkage between geologic framework, physical processes, and coastal evolution at time scales from storm events to millennia. The study area attracts significant tourism to its parks and beaches, contains a number of coastal communities, and supports a local fishing industry, all of which are impacted by coastal change. Knowledge derived from this research program can be used to mitigate hazards and facilitate effective management of this dynamic coastal system.
This regional mapping project produced spatial datasets of high-resolution geophysical (bathymetry, backscatter intensity, and seismic reflection) and sedimentary (core and grab-sample) data. The high-resolution geophysical data were collected during numerous surveys within the back-barrier estuarine system, along the barrier island complex, in the nearshore, and along the inner continental shelf. Sediment cores were taken on the mainland and along the barrier islands, and both cores and grab samples were taken on the inner shelf. Data collection was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and several other institutions including East Carolina University (ECU), the North Carolina Geological Survey, and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS).
The high-resolution geophysical data of the inner continental shelf were collected during six separate surveys conducted between 1999 and 2004 (four USGS surveys north of Cape Hatteras: 1999-045-FA, 2001-005-FA, 2002-012-FA, 2002-013-FA, and two USGS surveys south of Cape Hatteras: 2003-003-FA and 2004-003-FA) and cover more than 2600 square kilometers of the inner shelf. Single-beam bathymetry data were collected north of Cape Hatteras in 1999 using a Furuno fathometer. Swath bathymetry data were collected on all other inner shelf surveys using a SEA, Ltd. SwathPLUS 234-kHz bathymetric sonar. Chirp seismic data as well as sidescan-sonar data were collected with a Teledyne Benthos (Datasonics) SIS-1000 north of Cape Hatteras along with boomer seismic reflection data (cruises 1999-045-FA, 2001-005-FA, 2002-012-FA and 2002-013-FA). An Edgetech 512i was used to collect chirp seismic data south of Cape Hatteras (cruises 2003-003-FA and 2004-003-FA) along with a Klein 3000 sidescan-sonar system. Sediment samples were collected with a Van Veen grab sampler during four of the USGS surveys (1999-045-FA, 2001-005-FA, 2002-013-FA, and 2004-003-FA). Additional sediment core data along the inner shelf are provided from previously published studies.
A cooperative study, between the North Carolina Geological Survey and the Minerals Management Service (MMS cores), collected vibracores along the inner continental shelf offshore of Nags Head, Kill Devils Hills and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1996. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collected vibracores along the inner shelf offshore of Dare County in August 1995 (NDC cores) and July-August 1995 (SNL cores). These cores are curated by the North Carolina Geological Survey and were used as part of the ground validation process in this study.
Nearshore geophysical and core data were collected by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The nearshore is defined here as the region between the 10-m isobath and the shoreline. High-resolution bathymetry, backscatter intensity, and chirp seismic data were collected between June 2002 and May 2004. Vibracore samples were collected in May and July 2005.
Shallow subsurface geophysical data were acquired along the Outer Banks barrier islands using a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) system. Data were collected by East Carolina University from 2002 to 2005. Rotasonic cores (OBX cores) from five drilling operations were collected from 2002 to 2006 by the North Carolina Geological Survey as part of the cooperative study with the USGS. These cores are distributed throughout the Outer Banks as well as the mainland.
The USGS collected seismic data for the Quaternary section within the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system between 2001 and 2004 during six surveys (2001-013-FA, 2002-015-FA, 2003-005-FA, 2003-042-FA, 2004-005-FA, and 2004-006-FA). These surveys used Geopulse Boomer and Knudsen Engineering Limited (KEL) 320BR Chirp systems, except cruise 2003-042-FA, which used an Edgetech 424 Chirp and a boomer system. The study area includes Albemarle Sound and selected tributary estuaries such as the South, Pungo, Alligator, and Pasquotank Rivers; Pamlico Sound and trunk estuaries including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers; and back-barrier sounds including Currituck, Croatan, Roanoke, Core, and Bogue.
Purpose:
This grid represents the thickness of Quaternary sediment that are derived from analysis of the high-resolution seismic stratigraphy from the offshore and back barrier of North Carolina, from the Virginia border to Cape Lookout. The purpose of this data set is to map the thickness of Quaternary sediment above the top of Pliocene surface, Q0, using high-resolution seismic reflection data. These data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey during twelve separate research cruises beginning in 1999 and ending in 2004. Approximately 13,600 line-km of high-resolution seismic reflection data were collected along the inner continental shelf and back barrier of North Carolina. These data will be used to characterize the subsurface of the seafloor for regional geologic framework investigations.
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier
Theme_Keyword: USGS:6a4a5a7f-ba92-48ab-8ede-dbc856d89a39
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: isopach
Theme_Keyword: subbottom
Theme_Keyword: boomer
Theme_Keyword: chirp
Theme_Keyword: seismic stratigraphy
Theme_Keyword: geologic framework
Theme_Keyword: Top of Pliocene
Theme_Keyword: depth
Theme_Keyword: grid
Theme_Keyword: seafloor mapping
Theme_Keyword: marine geology
Theme_Keyword: U.S. Geological Survey
Theme_Keyword: USGS
Theme_Keyword: Coastal and Marine Geology Program
Theme_Keyword: CMGP
Theme_Keyword: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Theme_Keyword: WHCMSC
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 1999-045-FA
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 2001-005-FA
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 2001-013-FA
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 2002-012-FA
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 2002-013-FA
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 2002-015-FA
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 2003-003-FA
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 2003-005-FA
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 2003-042-FA
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 2004-003-FA
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 2004-005-FA
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number 2004-006-FA
Theme_Keyword: interpretation
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: oceans
Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: stratigraphic thickness
Theme_Keyword: scientific interpretation
Theme_Keyword: marine geophysics
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: North Carolina
Place_Keyword: NC
Place_Keyword: Outer Banks
Place_Keyword: inner shelf
Place_Keyword: back barrier
Place_Keyword: Albemarle Sound
Place_Keyword: Pamlico Sound
Place_Keyword: Duck
Place_Keyword: Cape Hatteras
Place_Keyword: United States
Place_Keyword: North America
Place_Keyword: North Atlantic
Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator of the dataset.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) must be referenced as the originator of the dataset in any future products or research derived from these data.
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