Summary for Field Activity Number 1979-008-FA

Alternate Leg ID: NE-3-79

Area of Operations: Potomac River, Washington D.C. to Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, Virginia, United States, North America

Dates: May 14, 1979 to May 30, 1979

Objectives: Conduct an acoustic survey of the Potomac River to define areas of sediment accumulation, areas of sediment erosion or scour, the thickness of Holocene sediments, the internal structure of the near-surface sediments, the types of bottom topography, and the general geologic history and environmental framework of the estuary.

Type of Activity: Seismic profiling

Information to be derived: Sea floor map
Morphology
Acoustic survey

Summary: The acoustic study of the Potomac River was quite successful. The boat and equipment functioned quite well and we were able to gather all the data that we set out to get. Sidescan sonar: 481 km; 7 kHz: 481 km; Airgun: 481 km; 2.5 kHz: 246 km.

USGS Project Number: 9450-02421

Contact: Harley Knebel (hknebel@usgs.gov)