Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1970

Publication Title

Maritime Sediments

Volume

6

Issue

1

Pages

5-11

Abstract

The coast of the Middle Atlantic Bight of North America's Atlantic shelf consists of a series of spit - barrier island systems attached on their northern ends to eroding headlands. It has been suggested that these barriers were generated as coastwise-prograding spits (Fisher, 1967) or alternatively as mainland beaches detached by the Holocene rise of sea level (Hoyt, 1967). The shore face before the barriers consists of fine, seaward-fining sand. Locally, it is corrugated by oblique-trending ridges with up to 8 metres of relief — see for instance CSGS Chart 1109. Beyond the shore face lies a vast submarine sand plain with a subdued ridge and swale topography. The sand has faunal and petrographic characteristics indicative of subaerial deposition during Pleistocene low stands of the sea (Emery, 1965). Its ridge and swale topography has been described as a relict strand plain (Shepard, 1963, p. 213), and as a modern, hydraulically maintained topography (Uchupi, 1968). At present we are engaged in a study of the Cape Hatteras to Cape Henry sector, North Carolina - Virginia, in order to further investigate these various features and determine their geneses. Our study is supported by the Coastal Engineering Research Centre, Geology Branch; by the United States Geological Survey, and by the National Science Foundation. Some of our preliminary findings are presented below.

Original Publication Citation

Swift, D. J., Shideler, G. L., Avignone, N. F., Holliday, B. W., & Dill, Jr, C. E. (1970). Quaternary sedimentation on the inner Atlantic Shelf between Cape Henry and Cape Hatteras: A preliminary report. Atlantic Geology, 6(1), 5-11.

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