Sedimentology of a Morphologically Complex Seafloor Environment, New Jersey Continental Shelf

Abstract

The overarching goal of this research was to advance our understanding of "geologic clutter", acoustic anomalies created by natural sub-seafloor features such as infilled paleochannels, using the continental shelf off New Jersey as a natural laboratory. As part of the ONR Geoclutter initiative, the objectives of this project were as follows: (1) to identify modern Holocene sedimentary processes responsible for the morphology and sedimentological heterogeneity of the seafloor; and (2) to determine the physical basis for seismic discontinuities and associated stratigraphic surfaces in the shallow subbottom. To meet these objectives, coordinated geophysical and geological studies were performed to characterize the sedimentology and stratigraphy at priority Geoclutter sites on the continental shelf. The geological data collected in this study will be used to design signal-processing algorithms that distinguish natural features and man-made targets present at (and just below) the seafloor.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 25, 2004
Accession Number
ADA426170

Entities

People

  • Christopher K. Sommerfield

Organizations

  • University of Delaware

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Impedance
  • Buildings And Structures
  • Continental Shelves
  • Discontinuities
  • Environment
  • Geology
  • Marine Geology
  • Military Research
  • New Jersey
  • Physical Properties
  • Porosity
  • Seabed
  • Sedimentology
  • Sediments
  • Signal Processing
  • Stratigraphy
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Geology

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Geotechnical Engineering.