Summary for Field Activity Number 1976-012-FA

Area of Operations: Lake Ontario, New York, United States, Ontario, Canada, Great Lakes, North America

Dates: April 19, 1976 to April 30, 1976

Objectives: The Lake Ontario cruise of the ARGUE MARTIN grew from a proposal to investigate the possible continuation of the Clarendon-Linden fault structure in western New York into Lake Ontario. Marine seismic profiling was used to determine the areal extent of the structure in the lake, and to delineate major structural features in the bedrock and any near surface features in the overlying sediment that could indicate recent movement on the fault.

Type of Activity: Seismic profiling

Information to be derived: Morphology

Summary: Active data collection was restricted to a daytime operation; base ports were Rochester Port Authority, New York side, and Cobourg Harbor, Ontario side. Windy weather conditions >15 mph curtailed the operation for 4.5 days out of 9 available. Two additional days were alloted for travelling to and from Rochester and loading/off-loading the ARGUE MARTIN. Total track length measures 440 km with 7 perpendicular crossings of the main proposed extension of the fault structure (10-15 km spacing) and at least 9 perpendicular crossings of proposed adjoining fault structures.

USGS Project Number: NYSGS

Contact: Deborah Hutchinson (dhutchinson@usgs.gov)