Shallow-water pockmark formation in temperate estuaries: A consideration of origins in the western gulf of Maine with special focus on Belfast Bay

Marine Geology

Volumn 225, Issue 1-4, 2006, Pages 45-62

  Rogers, Jeffrey N ^a   Kelley, Joseph T ^b   Belknap, Daniel F ^b   Gontz, Allen ^b   Barnhardt, Walter A ^c  

^a GEOSYNTEC CONSULTANTS   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF MAINE   (United States)

^c U S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY   (United States)

Author keywords

Belfast Bay; Maine; Marine mud; Methane; Quaternary; Sea level change

Indexed keywords

BELFAST BAY; MAINE; MARINE MUD; QUATERNARY; SEA-LEVEL CHANGE;

COASTAL ZONES; METHANE; NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS; SEA LEVEL; SEDIMENTOLOGY; SEISMIC PROSPECTING;

ESTUARIES;

BEDFORM; ESTUARY; HYDROCARBON MIGRATION; HYDROCARBON SEEP; QUATERNARY; SEA LEVEL CHANGE;

ATLANTIC OCEAN; GULF OF MAINE;

EID: 29644444569     PISSN: 00253227     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.margeo.2005.07.011     Document Type: Article

References (89)

1. D.B. Albert, C.S. Martens, and M.J. Alperin Biogeochemical process controlling methane in gassy coastal sediments: Part 2. Groundwater flow control of turbidity in Eckenforde Bay sediments Cont. Shelf Res. 18 1998 1771 1793
2. D.C. Barber Holocene depositional history and modern sand budget of inner Saco Bay, Maine Unpublished Masters Thesis, University of Maine 1995 178 pp.
3. W.A. Barnhardt, and J.T. Kelley Carbonate accumulation on the inner continental shelf of Maine: a modern consequence of late Quaternary glaciation and sea-level change J. Sediment. Res. A65 1995 195 207
4. W.A. Barnhardt, W.R. Gehrels, D.F. Belknap, and J.T. Kelley Late Quaternary relative sea-level change in the western Gulf of Maine: evidence for a migrating glacial forebulge Geology 23 1995 317 320
5. Barnhardt, W.A., Belknap, D.F., Kelley, A.R., Kelley, J.T., Dickson, S.M., 1996a. Surficial geology of the Maine inner continental shelf: Piscataqua River to Biddeford Pool, Maine. Geol. Map No. 96-7, Maine Geological Survey, Augusta, ME, 1 : 100,000.
6. Barnhardt, W.A., Belknap, D.F., Kelley, A.R., Kelley, J.T., Dickson, S.M., 1996b. Surficial geology of the Maine inner continental shelf: Ogunquit to Kennebec River, Maine. Geol. Map No. 96-8, Maine Geol. Survey, Augusta, ME, 1 : 100,000.
7. Barnhardt, W.A., Belknap, D.F., Kelley, A.R., Kelley, J.T., Dickson, S.M., 1996c. Surficial geology of the Maine inner continental shelf: Cape Elizabeth to Pemaquid Point, Maine. Geologic Map No. 96-9, Maine Geol. Survey, Augusta, ME, 1 : 100,000.
8. Barnhardt, W.A., Belknap, D.F., Kelley, A.R., Kelley, J.T., Dickson, S.M., 1996d. Surficial geology of the Maine inner continental shelf: Boothbay Harbor to North Haven, Maine. Geologic Map No. 96-10, Maine Geol. Survey, Augusta, ME, 1 : 100,000.
9. Barnhardt, W.A., Belknap, D.F., Kelley, A.R., Kelley, J.T., Dickson, S.M., 1996e. Surficial geology of the Maine inner continental shelf: Rockland to Bar Harbor, Maine. Geologic Map No. 96-11, Maine Geological Survey, Augusta, ME, 1 : 100,000.
10. Barnhardt, W.A., Belknap, D.F., Kelley, A.R., Kelley, J.T., Dickson, S.M., 1996f, Surficial geology of the Maine inner continental shelf: Mt. Desert Island to Jonesport, Maine, Geologic Map No. 96-12, Maine Geol. Survey, Augusta, ME, 1 : 100,000.
11. Barnhardt, W.A., Belknap, D.F., Kelley, A.R., Kelley, J.T., Dickson, S.M., 1996g. Surficial geology of the Maine inner continental shelf: Petit Manan to West Quoddy Head, Maine. Geologic Map No. 96-13, Maine Geol. Survey, Augusta, ME, 1 : 100,000.
12. W.A. Barnhardt, D.F. Belknap, and J.T. Kelley Stratigraphic evolution of the inner continental shelf in response to late Quaternary relative sea-level change, northwestern Gulf of Maine Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 109 1997 612 630
13. D.F. Belknap, and R.C. Shipp Seismic stratigraphy of glacial-marine units, Maine inner shelf J.B. Anderson G.M. Ashley Glacial-Marine Sedimentation; Paleoclimatic significance Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap. vol. 261 1991 137 157
14. D.F. Belknap, R.C. Shipp, and J.T. Kelley Depositional setting and Quaternary stratigraphy of the Sheepscot Estuary, Maine Géographie Physique et Quaternaire 40 1986 55 69
15. D.F. Belknap, B.G. Andersen, R.S. Anderson, W.A. Anderson, H.W. Borns Jr., G. Jacobson Jr., J.T. Kelley, R.C. Shipp, D.C. Smith, R. Stuckenrath Jr., W.B. Thompson, and D.A. Tyler Late Quaternary sea-level changes in Maine D. Nummedal O.H. Pilkey J.D. Howard Sea-Level Fluctuation and Coastal Evolution SEPM. Spec. Pub. vol. 41 1987 71 85
16. D.F. Belknap, R.C. Shipp, and J.T. Kelley Quaternary stratigraphy of representative Maine estuaries: initial examination by high resolution seismic reflection profiling D.M. FitzGerald P.S. Rosen Glaciated Coasts 1987 Academic Press San Diego 177 207
17. D.F. Belknap, J.C. Kraft, and R.K. Dunn Transgressive valley-fill lithosomes: Delaware and Maine R. Boyd B.A. Zaitlin R. Dalrymple Incised Valley Fill Systems SEPM Spec. Pub. vol. 51 1994 303 320
18. D.F. Belknap, J.T. Kelley, and A.M. Gontz Evolution of the glaciated shelf and coastline of the northern Gulf of Maine, USA J. Coast. Res. Spec. Issue 36 2002 37 55
19. A.L. Bloom Late-Pleistocene fluctuations of sea level and postglacial and crustal rebound in coastal Maine Am. J. Sci. 261 1963 862 879
20. J.S. Booth, D. Sangrey, and J. Fugate A nomogram for interpreting slope stability of fine-grained deposits in ancient and modern marine environments J. Sediment. Petrol. 55 1985 29 36
21. I. Bussman, and E. Suess Groundwater seepage in Ekenforde Bay (Western Baltic Sea): effect of methane and salinity distribution of the water column Cont. Shelf Res. 18 1998 1795 1806
22. Dickson, S.M., 1999. The role of storm-generated combined flows in shoreface and inner continental shelf sediment erosion, transport and deposition. Ph.D. Diss., Univ. of Maine, Orono, 179 pp.
23. C.C. Dorion, G.A. Balco, M.R. Kaplan, K.J. Kreutz, J.D. Wright, and H.W. Borns Jr. Stratigraphy, paleoceanography, chronology, and environment during deglaciation of eastern Maine T.K. Weddle M.J. Retelle Deglacial History and Relative Sea-Level Changes Northern New England and Adjacent Canada Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap. vol. 351 2001 215 242
24. G.B.J. Fader Gas-related sedimentary features from the eastern Canadian continental shelf Cont. Shelf Res. 11 1991 1123 1154
25. M.E. Field, J.V. Gardner, A.E. Jennings, and B.D. Edwards Earthquake-induced sediment failures on a 0.25° slope, Klamath River delta, California Geology 10 1982 542 546
26. P. Fleischer, T.H. Orsi, and M.D. Richardson Distribution of free gas in marine sediments: a global overview Geo Mar. Lett. 21 2001 103 122
27. S. Garcia-Gil, F. Vilas, and A. Garcia-Garcia Shallow gas features in incised-valley fills (Ria de Vigo, NW Spain): a case study Cont. Shelf Res. 22 2002 2302 2315
28. B.S. Gardiner, B.P. Boudreau, and B.D. Johnson Growth of disc-shaped bubbles in sediments Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 67 2003 1485 1494
29. W.R. Gehrels, D.F. Belknap, and J.T. Kelley Integrated high-precision analyses of Holocene relative sea-level changes; lessons from the coast of Maine Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 1089 1996 1073 1088
30. Gontz, A.M., 2002. Evolution of seabed pockmarks in Penobscot Bay, Maine. MS Thesis, University of Maine, Orono, 118 pp.
31. Gontz, A.M., 2005. Sources and implications of shallow subsurface methane in estuarine environments. Unpublished d. D. University of Maine, Orono, ME, 308 pp.
32. A.M. Gontz, D.F. Belknap, and J.T. Kelley Seafloor features and characteristics of the Black Ledges area, Penobscot Bay, Maine, USA J. Coast. Res. Spec. Issue 36 2002 333 339
33. Hannum M.B., 1997. Late Quaternary Evolution of the Kennebec and Damariscotta River Estuaries, Maine, M.S. Thesis, Univ. Maine, Orono, 98 pp.
34. T. Hasiotis, G. Papatheodorou, N. Kastanos, and G. Ferentinos A pockmark field in the Patras Gulf (Greece) and its activation during the 14/7/93 seismic event Mar. Geol. 130 1996 333 344
35. M.A. Hovland, and A.G. Judd Seabed Pockmarks and Seepages 1988 Graham and Trotman London 144
36. M.A. Hovland, M.R. Talbot, H. Qvale, S. Olaussen, and L. Aasberg Methane-related carbonate cements in pockmarks of the North Sea J. Sediment. Petrol. 57 1987 881 892
37. D. Johnson Facsimile The New England-Acadian Shoreline 1925 Hafner Pub. Co, 1967 New York 608 pp.
38. H.J. Josenhans, L.H. King, and G.B.J. Fader A side-scan sonar mosaic of pockmarks on the Scotian Shelf Can. J. Earth Sci. 15 1978 831 840
39. A.G. Judd, and M. Hovland The evidence of shallow gas in marine sediments Cont. Shelf Res. 12 1992 1081 1095
40. J.T. Kelley An inventory of coastal environments and classification of Maine's glaciated shoreline D.M. FitzGerald P.S. Rosen Glaciated Coasts 1987 Academic Press San Diego 151 176
41. J.T. Kelley Coastal Bluffs of New England M.A. Hampton G.B. Griggs Coastal Cliff Erosion: Status and Trends U. S. Geological Survey Prof. Pap. vol. 1693 2004 95 106 http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/pp1693/
42. J.T. Kelley, and Belknap Physiography, surficial sediments and Quaternary stratigraphy of the inner continental shelf and nearshore region of central Maine, United States of America Cont. Shelf Res. 11 1991 1265 1283
43. J.T. Kelley, and S.M. Dickson Low-cost bluff-stability mapping in coastal Maine: providing geological hazard information without alarming the public Environ. Geosci. 7 2000 46 56
44. J.T. Kelley, D.F. Belknap, G.L. Jacobson Jr., and H.A. Jacobson The morphology and origin of salt marshes along the glaciated coastline of Maine, USA J. Coast. Res. 4 1988 649 665
45. J.T. Kelley, D.F. Belknap, and R.C. Shipp Sedimentary framework of the southern Maine inner continental shelf: influence of glaciation and sea-level change Mar. Geol. 90 1989 139 147
46. J.T. Kelley, D.F. Belknap, R.C. Shipp, and S.B. Miller An investigation of neotectonic activity in coastal Maine by seismic reflection methods W.A. Anderson H.W. Borns Neotectonics of Maine, Studies in Seismicity, Crustal Warping, and Sea-level Change Maine Geol. Sur. Bull. vol. 40 1989 157 204
47. J.T. Kelley, S.M. Dickson, D.F. Belknap, and R. Stuckenrath Jr. Sea-level change and late Quarternary sediment accumulation on the southern Maine inner continental shelf C. Fletcher J. Wehmiller Quarternary Coasts of the United States: Marine and Lacustrine Systems Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral., Spec. Publ. vol. 48 1992 23 34
48. J.T. Kelley, S.M. Dickson, D.F. Belknap, W.A. Barnhardt, and M. Henderson Giant sea-bed pockmarks: evidence for gas escape from Belfast Bay, Maine Geology 22 1994 59 62
49. J.T. Kelley, W.R. Gehrels, and D.F. Belknap Late Holocene relative sea-level rise and the geologic development of tidal marshes at Wells, Maine, U.S.A. J. Coast. Res. 11 1995 136 153
50. J.T. Kelley, W.A. Barnhardt, D.F. Belknap, S.M. Dickson, and A.R. Kelley The seafloor revealed Maine Geol. Sur. 1998 Open File Rept. 96-6 Augusta, ME, 55 pp.
51. J.T. Kelley, S.M. Dickson, D.F. Belknap, W.A. Barnhardt, and D.C. Barber Sand volume and distribution on the paraglacial inner continental shelf of the northwestern Gulf of Maine J. Coast. Res. 19 2003 41 56
52. J.T. Kelley, D.C. Barber, D.F. Belknap, D.M. FitzGerald, S. van Heteren, and S.M. Dickson Sand budgets at geological, historical and contemporary time scales for a developed beach system, Saco Bay, Maine, USA Mar. Geol. 214 2005 117 142
53. L.H. King, and B. MacLean Pockmarks on the Scotian Shelf Geol. Soc. Amer Bull. 81 1970 3141 3148
54. H.J. Knebel Holocene depositional history of a large glaciated estuary, Penobscot Bay, Maine Mar. Geol. 73 1986 215 236
55. H.J. Knebel, and K.M. Scanlon Sedimentary framework of Penobscot Bay Maine. Mar. Geol. 65 1985 305 324
56. K.A. Kvenvolden A primer on gas hydrate D.G. Howell The Future of Energy Gases U.S. Geol. Sur. Prof. Pap. vol. 1750 1993 279 291
57. C.S. Martens, D.B. Albert, and M.J. Alperin Biogeochemical processes controlling methane in gassy sediments: Part 1. A model coupling organic matter flux to gas production, oxidation and transport Cont. Shelf Res. 18 1998 1741 1770
58. C.E. McClennen Microtopography and surficial sediment patterns in the central Gulf of Maine: a 3.5 kHz survey and interpretation Mar. Geol. 89 1989 69 85
59. Miller, G.T., 1998. Deglaciation of Wells Embayment, Maine: interpretation from seismic and side-scan sonar data. M.S. Thesis, Dept. Geol. Sci., Univ. Maine, Orono, 210 pp.
60. T. Missiaen, S. Murphy, L. Loncke, and J.P. Henriet Very high-resolution seismic mapping of shallow gas in the Belgian coastal zone Cont. Shelf Res. 22 2002 2291 2301
61. H. Nelson, D.R. Thor, M.W. Sandstrom, and K.A. Kvenvolden Modern biogenic gas-generated craters (sea-floor "pockmarks") on the Bering Shelf, Alaska Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 90 1979 1144 1152
62. NOAA, 2003, The NOAA ship RUDE; multibeam imagery from Belfast Bay. http://www.pmc.noaa.gov/ru/belfast.htm.
63. D.L. Orange, H.G. Greene, D. Reed, J.B. Martin, C.M. McHugh, W.B.F. Ryan, N. Maher, D. Stakes, and J. Barry Widespread fluid expulsion on a translational continental margin: mud volcanoes, fault zones, headless canyons, and organic-rich substrate in Monterey Bay, California Soc. Geol. Am. Bull. 111 1999 992 1009 1999
64. Osberg, P.H., Hussy, A.M. II, Boone, G.M., 1985. Bedrock Geologic Map of Maine: Maine Geol. Sur. Augusta, Maine. 1 : 500,000.
65. Ostericher, C., 1965. Bottom and subbottom investigations of Penobscot Bay Maine, 1959. U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office Tech. Rept. 173, 177 pp.
66. C.K. Paull, W. Ussler III, and W.S. Borowski Freshwater ice rafting: an additional mechanism for the formation of some high-latitude submarine pockmarks Geo Mar. Lett. 19 1999 164 168
67. C.K. Paull, W. Ussler III, N. Maher, H.G. Greene, G. Rehder, T. Lorenson, and H. Lee Pockmarks off Big Sur, California Mar. Geol. 181 2002 323 335
68. M.J. Retelle, and T.K. Weddle Deglaciation and relative sea-level chronology, Casco Bay Lowland and lower Androscoggin River Valley, Maine T.K. Weddle M.J. Retelle Deglacial History and Relative Sea-Level Changes Northern New England and Adjacent Canada Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap. vol. 351 2001 191 214
69. Rogers, J.N., 1999. Mapping of subaqueous, gas-related pockmarks in Belfast Bay, Maine using GIS and remote sensing techniques: MS Thesis, Dept. Geol. Sciences, Univ. of Maine, Orono, ME, 139 pp.
70. K.M. Scanlon, and H.J. Knebel Pockmarks on the floor of Penobscot Bay, Maine Geo Mar. Lett. 9 1989 53 58
71. J.R. Schubel Gas bubbles and the acoustically impenetrable, or turbid, character of some estuarine sediments I.R. Kaplan Natural Gases in Marine Sediments 1974 Plenum Press NY 275 298
72. J. Shaw, P. Gareau, and R.C. Courtney Palaeogeography of Atlantic Canada 13-0 kyr Quat. Sci. Rev. 21 2002 1861 1878
73. F.P. Shepard Submarine Geology 2nd ed. 1963 Harper and Row NY 557
74. R.C. Shipp, 1989. Late Quaternary sea-level fluctuations and geologic evolution of four embayments and adjacent inner shelf along the northwestern Gulf of Maine. Ph.D. Thesis, School of Marine Sciences, Univ. of Maine, 832 pp.
75. R.C. Shipp, D.F. Belknap, and J.T. Kelley A submerged shoreline on the inner shelf off the Maine coast, Northwestern Gulf of Maine R.D. Tucker R.G. Marvinney Studies in Maine Geology Quaternary Geology vol. 5 1989 Maine Geol. Sur Augusta 11 28
76. R.C. Shipp, D.F. Belknap, and J.T. Kelley Seismic-stratigraphic and geomorphic evidence for a post-glacial sea-level lowstand in the northern Gulf of Maine J. Coast. Res. 7 1991 341 364
77. R.C. Shipp, S.A. Staples, and L.G. Ward Controls and zonation of geomorphology along a glaciated coast, Gouldsboro Bay, Maine D.M. FitzGerald P.S. Rosen Glaciated Coasts 1987 Academic Press San Diego 209 231
78. P. Soderberg, and Floden Gas seepages, gas eruptions and degassing structures in the seafloor along the Stromma tectonic lineament in the crystalline Stockholm Archipelago, east Sweden Cont. Shelf Res. 12 1992 1157 1171
79. M. Stuiver, and H.W. Borns Jr. Late Quaternary marine invasion in Maine: its chronology and associated crustal movement Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 86 1975 99 104
80. D.I. Taylor Nearshore shallow gas around the U.K. coast Cont. Shelf Res. 12 1992 1135 1144
81. W.B. Thompson Recession of the late Wisconsinan ice sheet in coastal Maine G.J. Larson B.D. Stone Late Wisconsinan Glaciation of New England 1982 Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co Dubuque 211 228
82. Thompson, W.B. and Borns, H.W., Jr., 1985. Surficial Geologic Map of Maine. Maine Geol. Sur., Augusta, Maine 1 : 500,000.
83. A. Tolman, J. Kelley, and C. LePage Buried Valleys in Southwestern Maine Geol. Soc. Am. 18 1986 72 (Abstracts with Program)
84. E. Uchupi The Stellwagen Bank region off eastern Massachusetts: a Wisconsin glaciated Cenozoic sand banks/delta? Mar. Geol. 204 2004 325 347
85. E. Uchupi, S.A. Swift, and D.A. Ross Gas venting and late Quaternary sedimentation in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf Mar. Geol. 129 1996 237 269
86. W. Ussler III, C.K. Paull, J. Boucher, G.E. Friederich, and D.J. Thomas Submarine pockmarks: a case study from Belfast Bay, Maine Mar. Geol. 202 2003 175 192
87. P.R. Vogt, K. Crane, E. Sundvor, M.D. Max, and S.L. Pfirman Methane-generated (?) pockmarks on young, thickly sedimented oceanic crust in the Arctic: Vestnesa Ridge, Fram Strait Geology 22 1994 255 258
88. Th.F. Wever, F. Abegg, H. Fiedler, G. Fechner, and I.H. Stender Shallow gas in the muddy sediments of Eckernforde Bay, Germany Cont. Shelf Res. 18 1998 1715 1739
89. M.J. Whiticar Diagenetic relationships of methanogenesis, nutrients, acoustic turbidity, pockmarks and freshwater seepages in Eckernforde Bay Mar. Geol. 182 2002 29 53