A high-resolution seismic survey of the Holocene section offshore part of the Dutch mesotidal barrier shoreline

Conference · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:6693889

Kosters, E C; McGee, T; Posthumus, B; Brouwer, J ^[1]

---

1. Univ. of Utrecht (Netherlands)

Genetic stratigraphy of the Holocene section offshore the Dutch mesotidal barrier islands Terschelling and Ameland was studied using a 220-mi-grid of both analog and digitally acquired high-resolution seismic records, obtained with a 300 Joule boomer and 10{sup 3}-in. air gun. The southern North Sea basin was subaerially exposed during the most recent (Wurm) Pleistocene lowstand and covered by glaciers during the previous (Saale) glacial. The Pleistocene surface in the area is approximately 30 m below the sediment surface and shows strong erosional and glaciotectonic characteristics. Holocene inundation began after 10 Ka. The investigated area has been fully marine since approximately 8 Ka. The Holocene energy regime has maximum tidal currents of 10-15 knots and a semidiurnal tide range of approximately 2 m. Pleistocene erosional relief may have been used for early Holocene tidal drainage, as evidenced by lateral accretion reflectors filling this relief. Locally, these reflectors become sigmoidal in expression, where they may represent early Holocene ebb-tidal deltas. This seismic expression is similar to that of recent ebb-tidal deltas in the area. In one location Holocene sediments offlap a Pleistocene topographic high. In the western part of the study area, the sea floor offshore the barrier island Terschelling is relatively flat. The Holocene section appears to consist of two transgressive stratigraphic units. The lower unit contains a number of coast-parallel sediment bodies, measuring roughly 3 {times} 7 {times} 5 m. It is uncertain at this time whether these represent either part of an early Holocene barrier island chain, or tidal ridges of that age. A number of approximately 2-3-m high sand ridges lies in a northwest-southeast section at an angle of approximately 25{degree}, with the present barrier shoreline offshore the barrier island Ameland in the eastern part of the area.

• OSTI ID: 6693889
• Report Number(s): CONF-900605--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Journal Volume: 74:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CENOZOIC ERA
EUROPE
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
GLACIERS
NETHERLANDS
NORTH SEA
QUATERNARY PERIOD
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
STRATIGRAPHY
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
TECTONICS
WESTERN EUROPE