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Title: Subsea ice-bearing permafrost on the U.S. Beaufort Margin: 1. Minimum seaward extent defined from multichannel seismic reflection data: SUBSEA PERMAFROST ON THE U.S. BEAUFORT I

Journal Article · · Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016gc006584· OSTI ID:1532977
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1]
  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA (USA)
  2. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Anchorage AK (United States)
  3. U.S. Geological Survey, Santa Cruz, CA (USA)
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Subsea ice-bearing permafrost (IBPF) and associated gas hydrate in the Arctic have been subject to a warming climate and saline intrusion since the last transgression at the end of the Pleistocene. The consequent degradation of IBPF is potentially associated with significant degassing of dissociating gas hydrate deposits. Previous studies interpreted the distribution of subsea permafrost on the U.S. Beaufort continental shelf based on geographically sparse data sets and modeling of expected thermal history. The most cited work projects subsea permafrost to the shelf edge (~100 m isobath). This study uses a compilation of stacking velocity analyses from ~100,000 line-km of industry-collected multichannel seismic reflection data acquired over 57,000 km2 of the U.S. Beaufort shelf to delineate continuous subsea IBPF. Gridded average velocities of the uppermost 750 ms two-way travel time range from 1475 to 3110 m s-1. The monotonic, cross-shore pattern in velocity distribution suggests that the seaward extent of continuous IBPF is within 37 km of the modern shoreline at water depths < 25 m. These interpretations corroborate recent Beaufort seismic refraction studies and provide the best, margin-scale evidence that continuous subsea IBPF does not currently extend to the northern limits of the continental shelf.

Research Organization:
National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC (United States); US Geological Survey, Boulder, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
Grant/Contract Number:
FC26-05NT42248; FE0002911
OSTI ID:
1532977
Journal Information:
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, Vol. 17, Issue 11; ISSN 1525-2027
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 22 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (2)

Permafrost Extent on the Alaskan Beaufort Shelf From Surface-Towed Controlled-Source Electromagnetic Surveys journal September 2018
Limited contribution of ancient methane to surface waters of the U.S. Beaufort Sea shelf journal January 2018

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