High resolution seismic study of the Holocene infill of the Elkhorn Slough, central California

Ana García-García; Matthew D. Levey; Elizabeth B. Watson

doi:10.1016/j.csr.2013.01.012

High resolution seismic study of the Holocene infill of the Elkhorn Slough, central California

Ana García-García, Matthew D. Levey, Elizabeth B. Watson

Continental Scientific Drilling Facility

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10 Scopus citations

Abstract

The seismic analysis of the sedimentary infill of the Elkhorn Slough, central California, reveals a succession of three main seismic units: U1, U2, U3, with their correspondent discontinuities d₂, d₃. These units are deposited over a paleorelief representing the channel location at least 8k years ago. The location of that paleochannel has not changed with time, but the geometry of the infilling sedimentary packages has done so through the years. Discontinuities d₂ and d₃ show a relic island or relative high in the center of the Slough that separated the sedimentation into two main small basins at least 3k years ago. There is evidence of erosion in the last two sedimentary units showing that the present erosive pattern began decades ago at minimum. We have correlated radiocarbon data of selected cores with the high resolution chirp profiles and reconstructed the infill for the Elkhorn Slough.In the most recent unit, the occurrence of numerous lateral accretion surfaces on both ends of the main channel is discussed within their environmental setting, tidal currents and the net ebb flux of the area. We have interpreted the presence of gas in the sediments of the slough, with a gas front located at the tops of units 2 and 3, which are discontinuities that reflect an effective seal for the gas. Our data shows no obvious evidence for seepage, although the shallow presence of some of the fronts points out the fragility of the environment in the present erosive conditions.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	108-118
Number of pages	11
Journal	Continental Shelf Research
Volume	55
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2013.01.012
State	Published - Mar 1 2013

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank the SeaFloor Mapping Lab at CSUMB for use of their Edgetech CHIRP profiler, Captain Ron Eby for his time and skillful handling of the acquisition vessel, Geoff Shipton of Triton Imaging for his assistance during acquisition and interpretation of CHIRP data, and Triton Imaging for donating their excellent seismic acquisition and interpretation software. We also wish to thank the staff of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for their assistance and use of equipment. We would like to also thank the reviewers Mr. Maher and editor Mr. Jonathan Sharples, whose suggestions and comments improved the earlier version of the manuscript. Funding and support for this project was provided by CICEET, the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology. A partnership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of New Hampshire, CICEET develops tools for clean water and healthy coasts nationwide. Partial support was also provided by Fugro Geoconsulting Inc. We want to thank Dr. Gary Hampsom for his insight regarding lateral accretion surfaces and point and counter point bars, and Dr. Gary Greene for clarification on the geological background. We also thank Dr. Ivano Aiello at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories for early discussions on the manuscript.

Copyright:
Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

California
Elkhorn Slough
High-resolution seismic analysis
Holocene
Marine transgression

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title = "High resolution seismic study of the Holocene infill of the Elkhorn Slough, central California",

abstract = "The seismic analysis of the sedimentary infill of the Elkhorn Slough, central California, reveals a succession of three main seismic units: U1, U2, U3, with their correspondent discontinuities d2, d3. These units are deposited over a paleorelief representing the channel location at least 8k years ago. The location of that paleochannel has not changed with time, but the geometry of the infilling sedimentary packages has done so through the years. Discontinuities d2 and d3 show a relic island or relative high in the center of the Slough that separated the sedimentation into two main small basins at least 3k years ago. There is evidence of erosion in the last two sedimentary units showing that the present erosive pattern began decades ago at minimum. We have correlated radiocarbon data of selected cores with the high resolution chirp profiles and reconstructed the infill for the Elkhorn Slough.In the most recent unit, the occurrence of numerous lateral accretion surfaces on both ends of the main channel is discussed within their environmental setting, tidal currents and the net ebb flux of the area. We have interpreted the presence of gas in the sediments of the slough, with a gas front located at the tops of units 2 and 3, which are discontinuities that reflect an effective seal for the gas. Our data shows no obvious evidence for seepage, although the shallow presence of some of the fronts points out the fragility of the environment in the present erosive conditions.",

keywords = "California, Elkhorn Slough, High-resolution seismic analysis, Holocene, Marine transgression",

author = "Ana Garc{\'i}a-Garc{\'i}a and Levey, {Matthew D.} and Watson, {Elizabeth B.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors wish to thank the SeaFloor Mapping Lab at CSUMB for use of their Edgetech CHIRP profiler, Captain Ron Eby for his time and skillful handling of the acquisition vessel, Geoff Shipton of Triton Imaging for his assistance during acquisition and interpretation of CHIRP data, and Triton Imaging for donating their excellent seismic acquisition and interpretation software. We also wish to thank the staff of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for their assistance and use of equipment. We would like to also thank the reviewers Mr. Maher and editor Mr. Jonathan Sharples, whose suggestions and comments improved the earlier version of the manuscript. Funding and support for this project was provided by CICEET, the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology. A partnership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of New Hampshire, CICEET develops tools for clean water and healthy coasts nationwide. Partial support was also provided by Fugro Geoconsulting Inc. We want to thank Dr. Gary Hampsom for his insight regarding lateral accretion surfaces and point and counter point bars, and Dr. Gary Greene for clarification on the geological background. We also thank Dr. Ivano Aiello at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories for early discussions on the manuscript. Copyright: Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.csr.2013.01.012",

language = "English (US)",

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T1 - High resolution seismic study of the Holocene infill of the Elkhorn Slough, central California

AU - García-García, Ana

AU - Levey, Matthew D.

AU - Watson, Elizabeth B.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors wish to thank the SeaFloor Mapping Lab at CSUMB for use of their Edgetech CHIRP profiler, Captain Ron Eby for his time and skillful handling of the acquisition vessel, Geoff Shipton of Triton Imaging for his assistance during acquisition and interpretation of CHIRP data, and Triton Imaging for donating their excellent seismic acquisition and interpretation software. We also wish to thank the staff of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for their assistance and use of equipment. We would like to also thank the reviewers Mr. Maher and editor Mr. Jonathan Sharples, whose suggestions and comments improved the earlier version of the manuscript. Funding and support for this project was provided by CICEET, the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology. A partnership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of New Hampshire, CICEET develops tools for clean water and healthy coasts nationwide. Partial support was also provided by Fugro Geoconsulting Inc. We want to thank Dr. Gary Hampsom for his insight regarding lateral accretion surfaces and point and counter point bars, and Dr. Gary Greene for clarification on the geological background. We also thank Dr. Ivano Aiello at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories for early discussions on the manuscript. Copyright: Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2013/3/1

Y1 - 2013/3/1

N2 - The seismic analysis of the sedimentary infill of the Elkhorn Slough, central California, reveals a succession of three main seismic units: U1, U2, U3, with their correspondent discontinuities d2, d3. These units are deposited over a paleorelief representing the channel location at least 8k years ago. The location of that paleochannel has not changed with time, but the geometry of the infilling sedimentary packages has done so through the years. Discontinuities d2 and d3 show a relic island or relative high in the center of the Slough that separated the sedimentation into two main small basins at least 3k years ago. There is evidence of erosion in the last two sedimentary units showing that the present erosive pattern began decades ago at minimum. We have correlated radiocarbon data of selected cores with the high resolution chirp profiles and reconstructed the infill for the Elkhorn Slough.In the most recent unit, the occurrence of numerous lateral accretion surfaces on both ends of the main channel is discussed within their environmental setting, tidal currents and the net ebb flux of the area. We have interpreted the presence of gas in the sediments of the slough, with a gas front located at the tops of units 2 and 3, which are discontinuities that reflect an effective seal for the gas. Our data shows no obvious evidence for seepage, although the shallow presence of some of the fronts points out the fragility of the environment in the present erosive conditions.

AB - The seismic analysis of the sedimentary infill of the Elkhorn Slough, central California, reveals a succession of three main seismic units: U1, U2, U3, with their correspondent discontinuities d2, d3. These units are deposited over a paleorelief representing the channel location at least 8k years ago. The location of that paleochannel has not changed with time, but the geometry of the infilling sedimentary packages has done so through the years. Discontinuities d2 and d3 show a relic island or relative high in the center of the Slough that separated the sedimentation into two main small basins at least 3k years ago. There is evidence of erosion in the last two sedimentary units showing that the present erosive pattern began decades ago at minimum. We have correlated radiocarbon data of selected cores with the high resolution chirp profiles and reconstructed the infill for the Elkhorn Slough.In the most recent unit, the occurrence of numerous lateral accretion surfaces on both ends of the main channel is discussed within their environmental setting, tidal currents and the net ebb flux of the area. We have interpreted the presence of gas in the sediments of the slough, with a gas front located at the tops of units 2 and 3, which are discontinuities that reflect an effective seal for the gas. Our data shows no obvious evidence for seepage, although the shallow presence of some of the fronts points out the fragility of the environment in the present erosive conditions.

KW - California

KW - Elkhorn Slough

KW - High-resolution seismic analysis

KW - Holocene

KW - Marine transgression

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DO - 10.1016/j.csr.2013.01.012

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84874722078

SN - 0278-4343

VL - 55

SP - 108

EP - 118

JO - Continental Shelf Research

JF - Continental Shelf Research

ER -

High resolution seismic study of the Holocene infill of the Elkhorn Slough, central California

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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