Coastal and Marine Geology Program
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Skip titleU.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1018
Surficial Geologic Interpretation and Sidescan Sonar Imagery of the Sea Floor in West-Central Long Island Sound

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 OFR 2005-1018 Home

Introduction

Geologic Setting

Bathymetry Discussion

Data Acquisition and Processing

Sidescan Imagery

GIS Data Catalog

References

Figures List

Acknowledgments

Contacts

Disclaimer

README

 FIGURES LIST

Bathymetric map of the Branford, Connecticut study area. bathymap - Bathymetric map of NOAA survey H11044. Depths are in meters and represent mean lower low water level. Sediment sampling and bottom photography stations within the study area are also shown. Detailed views of the sidescan-sonar mosaic identified by boxes A, B, and C is available here. Location of seismic line is also noted.
 
Bottom photograph showing an example of a sedimentary environment characterized by coarse bedload transport. cbtransport - Bottom photograph showing an example of a sedimentary environment characterized by coarse bedload transport.  Note current ripples.  Bottom photo is from Niantic Bay in Long Island Sound (Poppe and others, 2000c).
 
Bottom photograph showing an example of a sedimentary environment characterized by deposition. deposition - Bottom photograph showing an example of a sedimentary environment characterized by deposition. Note the muddy sediment and abundant polychaete and amphipod tubes. Bottom photo is from Niantic Bay in Long Island Sound (Poppe and others, 2000c).
 
Detailed views of the sidescan-sonar image. detailedsss - Detailed views of the sidescan-sonar image (location map). A.) Sand waves on unnamed shoal south of Lordship. B.) Circular trawl marks and pipeline or cable. C.) Low backscatter bands probably representing density-flow pathways. Object on right side of image is about 60 m long and is most likely an uncharted shipwreck surrounded by a halo of fine-grained sediment.
 
Bottom photograph showing an example of a sedimentary environment characterized by erosion or nondeposition. erosion - Bottom photograph showing an example of a sedimentary environment characterized by erosion or nondeposition. Note the gravelly sediment and sessile fauna. Bottom photo is from Niantic Bay in Long Island Sound (Poppe and others, 2000c).
 
Lobster boat pulling traps in Long Island Sound. fishingc - Lobster boat pulling traps in Long Island Sound.
 
Clam trawler BIVALVE at sea in Long Island Sound. fishingd - Clam trawler BIVALVE at sea in north-central Long Island Sound.
 
Interpretation of sidescan-sonar mosaic NOA survey H11044. interpretation - Interpretation of sidescan-sonar mosaic NOAA survey H11044. The degree of backscatter is mapped, as are areas of natural features (such as sand waves and rocks) and areas with anthropogenic features (such as trawl marks, concentrations of lobster pots, and pipelines or cables). 
 
Map showing location of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) survey H11044.

locationmap - Map showing location of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) survey H11044 (red polygon). Also shown are major onshore moraines, and sites of other surveys in this series: Norwalk--Twichell and others (1997); Milford--Twichell and others (1998); New Haven Harbor and New Haven Dumping Ground--Poppe and others (2001); Branford--Poppe and others (2004); Roanoke Point--Poppe and others (1999a); Falkner Island--Poppe and others (1999b); Hammonasset--Poppe and others (1997); Niantic Bay--Poppe and others (1998b); New London--Zajac and others (2003); Fishers Island Sound--Poppe and others (1998a).

 
Sidescan Sonar Mosaic of NOAA survey H11044

mosaic - Sidescan-sonar mosaic of NOAA survey H11044. Light areas represent high backscatter (generally coarser-grained sediments) and dark areas represent low backscatter (generally finer-grained sediments).
 
NOAA ship RUDE at dock. rudechelsea - Starboard-side view of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Research Vessel RUDE at dock in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
 
Map showing the surficial sediment distribution within NOAA survey H11044. seddist - Map showing the surficial sediment distribution within NOAA survey H11044, based on sidescan-sonar mosaic, bathymetry, and texture analyses of sediment samples from the stations shown in the bathymetry map.
 
Map showing the sedimentary environment distribution within NOAA survey H11044. sedenv - Map showing the sedimentary environment distribution within NOAA survey H11044, based on sidescan-sonar mosaic, bathymetry, texture analyses of sediment samples and surficial sediment map.
 
Seismic line crossing an area of sand waves south of Stratford Point. seismic - Seismic line crossing an area of sand waves south of Stratford Point (location map). The two westernmost sand waves have west-facing lee sides and the four easternmost sand waves have east-facing lee sides. Vertical exaggeration: 32x.
 
Sediment classification scheme from Shepard (1954).

shepfig - Sediment classification scheme from Shepard (1954) as modified by Schlee (1973).
 
Bottom photograph showing an example of a sedimentary environment characterized by sorting or reworking.

sortrewk - Bottom photograph showing an example of a sedimentary environment characterized by sorting or reworking. Note the sandy muddy sediment and abundant shell debris. Bottom photo is from Niantic Bay in Long Island Sound (Poppe and others, 2000c).

 
Edgetech sidescan sonar tow fish.

towfish - Edgetech (EG&G) 272T sidescan sonar tow fish used aboard the RUDE for data acquisition during NOAA survey H11043.
 
R/V UCONN at dock.

UCONN - R/V UCONN at dock with members of the crew and scientific party.

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Coastal and Marine Geology
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