The sedimentary regime around northern Sylt, South-eastern North Sea, based on shallow seismic (sparker and Chirp III) information

Lars Ole Boldreel, Antoon Kuijpers, Emil B Madsen, Mette F Bjerkvig, Christian Hass, Sebastian Lindhorst, Rasmus Rasmussen, Maya G Nielsen, Gitte G Poulsen, Jesper Bartholdy, Jørn Bjarke Torp Pedersen

Abstract

The coastal off-shore zone of the northern part of the island of Sylt was investigated by sparker seismics and high-resolution subbottom profiling during the period 2005-2009. The data was acquired in the North Sea sector as well as in the Lister Tief, Lister Ley, Højer Dyb and Rømø Dyb. During the various surveys of the RV ‘Mya’ (AWI), fair weather conditions generally prevailed, favouring acquisition of good quality data. The sparker data reveal geological information in the interval of 0-100 msce bsf (below seafloor) and the Chirp III data 0-15 m bsf. The data was processed and interpreted on a workstation. Interpretation of the data reveals bedforms, with their internal structures representative of the “present sedimentation regime”. In addition, the sparker data show 2-3 well-defined deeper regional reflectors and pronounced erosion channels at greater subbottom depth. Using various bedform characteristics, the areal distribution of ebb-, flood- and indefinite dunes and erosion scars has been documented. The interpreted data are complementary to information from sidescan sonar data acquired within the framework of our study and by others. In addition, our data set provides new, subbottom information. The sparker seismic and Chirp III data show that the processes responsible for the bedforms have been persistent throughout the Holocene. Based on the study, a model for the current and sedimentation regime is proposed.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationECSA Workshop 46, (Estuarine & Coastal Sciences Association),"THE WADDENSEA: CHANGES AND CHALLENGES IN A WORLD HERITAGE SITE" AWI-Wattenmeer Station, Sylt, Germany
Number of pages1
Publication date2010
Publication statusPublished - 2010
EventECSA Workshop 46, (Estuarine & Coastal Sciences Association), "THE WADDEN SEA: CHANGES AND CHALLENGES IN A WORLD HERITAGE SITE" AWI-Wattenmeer Station, Sylt, Germany - List, Germany
Duration: 3 May 20106 May 2010

Conference

ConferenceECSA Workshop 46, (Estuarine & Coastal Sciences Association), "THE WADDEN SEA: CHANGES AND CHALLENGES IN A WORLD HERITAGE SITE" AWI-Wattenmeer Station, Sylt, Germany
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityList
Period03/05/201006/05/2010

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