Delaware Bay Benthic Mapping Project: Using High‐Resolution Geophysical Methods to Map Bottom Habitat and Sub‐Bottom Sediments

Abstract

PreviousNext No AccessSymposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2008Delaware Bay Benthic Mapping Project: Using High‐Resolution Geophysical Methods to Map Bottom Habitat and Sub‐Bottom SedimentsAuthors: John A. MadsenBartholomew D. WilsonDavid B. CarterJohn A. MadsenUniv. of Delaware, Newark, DESearch for more papers by this author, Bartholomew D. WilsonDelaware Dept. of Nat. Resources & Env. Control, Dover, DESearch for more papers by this author, and David B. CarterDelaware Dept. of Nat. Resources & Env. Control, Dover, DESearch for more papers by this authorhttps://doi.org/10.4133/1.2963323 SectionsAboutPDF/ePub ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail Abstract The Coastal Program of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is carrying out a bottom and sub‐bottom imaging project to map the bottom habitat and sub‐bottom sediments of Delaware Bay. A RoxAnn acoustic system measuring bay bottom hardness and roughness is correlated with ground‐truth grab samples and video to classify bottom sediments. The RoxAnn data is being used to map the distribution of these sediments and has identified the spatial extent and relative density of oyster shell on the bay bottom. Sub‐bottom profiles, collected using an Edgetech X‐STAR chirp sonar system, are integrated with the RoxAnn data to constrain the thickness and continuity of bottom sediments and to map potential/past offshore sand borrow sites that can be/have been used for beach replenishment. The chirp data has been integrated with additional information from sediment cores to develop maps of suitable sand deposits for replenishment based upon location, thickness, overburden, and grain size. The morphology of select areas of the bay bottom is being mapped using a Reson 8124 multibeam bathymetric system. The system has been used to map high‐interest areas including natural and artificial reefs, oyster beds, and critical fish habitat.Permalink: https://doi.org/10.4133/1.2963323FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2008ISSN (online):1554-8015Copyright: 2008 Pages: 1427 publication data© 2008 Copyright © 2008 The Environmental and Engineering Geophysical SocietyPublisher:Environmental & Engineering Geophysical Society HistoryPublished Online: 30 Sep 2008 CITATION INFORMATION John A. Madsen, Bartholomew D. Wilson, and David B. Carter, (2008), "Delaware Bay Benthic Mapping Project: Using High‐Resolution Geophysical Methods to Map Bottom Habitat and Sub‐Bottom Sediments," Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems Proceedings : 816-823. https://doi.org/10.4133/1.2963323 Plain-Language Summary PDF DownloadLoading ...