Regional Distribution and Characteristics of Bottom sediments in Arctic Coastal Waters of Alaska. Review of Current Literature.

This report includes a discussion of some of the properties and characteristics of offshore marine sediments found in the U.S. Beaufort Sea that could influence aspects of offshore development. A collection of references is also included in an appendix. Perennially and seasonally frozen sediments ar...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sellmann,Paul V
Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1980
Subjects:
Physical and Dynamic Oceanography
*SEDIMENTS
*OCEAN BOTTOM
HYDRATES
ICE
OCEAN BOTTOM TOPOGRAPHY
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
NATURAL GAS
PERMAFROST
BEAUFORT SEA
Overconsolidation
Ground ice
Arctic
Beaufort Sea
Ice
permafrost
Alaska
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA084922
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA084922
Description
Summary:This report includes a discussion of some of the properties and characteristics of offshore marine sediments found in the U.S. Beaufort Sea that could influence aspects of offshore development. A collection of references is also included in an appendix. Perennially and seasonally frozen sediments are extremely common, with variable distribution and properties. The depth to the top of icebonded permafrost can be as little as 7 m below the seabed many kilometers from the sea coast. The subsea permafrost can contain visible ground ice similar to that observed on land, and can be anticipated to cause problems at least as great as those experienced on land. The distribution and properties of fine-grained sediments are also variable with evidence that they are commonly overconsolidated. The distribution and properties of these sediments can be important in influencing access to material suitable for construction of offshore structures, such as islands. The possible occurrence of gas hydrates and some of industry's experience with this form of natural gas are also discussed. A recent paper by Barnes and Reimnitz (1979) provides new information on redistribution of seabed sediments during periodic events. Their observations suggest that previous estimates of gouge frequency and maximum depth can be conservative, and that gouging and sediment infilling can be more dynamic than previous data may indicate. (Author)

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