Influence of late Pleistocene glaciations on the hydrogeology of the continental shelf offshore Massachusetts, USA

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dc.citation.journalTitleGeochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
dc.contributor.authorSiegel, Jacob
dc.contributor.authorPerson, Mark
dc.contributor.authorDugan, Brandon
dc.contributor.authorCohen, Denis
dc.contributor.authorLizarralde, Daniel
dc.contributor.authorGable, Carl
dc.date.accessioned2015-01-08T14:55:02Z
dc.date.available2015-01-08T14:55:02Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractMultiple late Pleistocene glaciations that extended onto the continental shelf offshore Massachusetts, USA, may have emplaced as much as 100 km3 of freshwater (salinity <5 ppt) in continental shelf sediments. To estimate the volume and extent of offshore freshwater, we developed a three-dimensional, variable-density model that couples fluid flow and heat and solute transport for the continental shelf offshore Massachusetts. The stratigraphy for our model is based on high-resolution, multichannel seismic data. The model incorporates the last 3 Ma of climate history by prescribing boundary conditions of sea level change and ice sheet extent and thickness. We incorporate new estimates of the maximum extent of a late Pleistocene ice sheet to near the shelf-slope break. Model results indicate that this late Pleistocene ice sheet was responsible for much of the emplaced freshwater. We predict that the current freshwater distribution may reach depths up to 500 meters below sea level and up to 30 km beyond Martha's Vineyard. The freshwater distribution is strongly dependent on the three-dimensional stratigraphy and ice sheet history. Our predictions improve our understanding of the distribution of offshore freshwater, a potential nonrenewable resource for coastal communities along recently glaciated margins.
dc.identifier.citationSiegel, Jacob, Person, Mark, Dugan, Brandon, et al.. "Influence of late Pleistocene glaciations on the hydrogeology of the continental shelf offshore Massachusetts, USA." <i>Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems,</i> (2014) American Geophysical Union: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2014GC005569.
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2014GC005569
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/78904
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherAmerican Geophysical Union
dc.rightsArticle is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
dc.subject.keywordPleistocene
dc.subject.keywordhydrogeology
dc.subject.keywordcontinental shelf
dc.subject.keywordglaciation
dc.subject.keywordfreshwater resources
dc.titleInfluence of late Pleistocene glaciations on the hydrogeology of the continental shelf offshore Massachusetts, USA
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.publicationpublisher version
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