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TitleDistribution of hexactinellid sponge reefs in the Chatham Sound region, British Columbia
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LicencePlease note the adoption of the Open Government Licence - Canada supersedes any previous licences.
AuthorShaw, J; Conway, K W; Wu, Y; Kung, R
SourceGeological Survey of Canada, Current Research (Online) 2018-1, 2018, 14 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/306310 Open Access logo Open Access
LinksErratum
Year2018
PublisherNatural Resources Canada
Documentserial
Lang.English
Mediaon-line; digital
File formatpdf
ProvinceBritish Columbia; Western offshore region
NTS103A; 103B; 103G; 103H; 103J/01; 103J/02; 103J/03; 103J/06; 103J/07; 103J/08; 103J/09; 103J/10; 103J/11
AreaChatham Sound; Devastation Channel; Kitimat Arm; Estevan Channel; Hecate Strait; Queen Charlotte Sound; Prince Rupert; Haida Gwaii; Skeena River
Lat/Long WENS-132.0000 -128.5000 54.7500 52.5000
Subjectsmarine geology; surficial geology/geomorphology; fossil fuels; geophysics; reefs; glaciomarine deposits; moraines; turbidity; postglacial deposits; marine sediments; muds; continental margins; continental shelf; marine environments; nearshore environment; seafloor topography; bathymetry; submarine features; submarine ridges; geophysical surveys; acoustic surveys, marine; sonar surveys; side-scan sonar; petroleum occurrence; pockmarks; oceanography; modelling; salinity; tidal currents; hydrodynamics; sedimentation rates; drainage; rivers; runoff; geological history; glaciation; sea level changes; morphology; Chatham Sound Reef Complex; sponges; Hexactinellid sponges; Phanerozoic; Cenozoic; Quaternary
Illustrationslocation maps; geoscientific sketch maps; geophysical profiles; 3-D images; models
ProgramPublic Safety Geoscience Marine Geohazards
Released2018 01 18; 2018 03 09
AbstractSystematic mapping of the Chatham Sound region, British Columbia, shows that hexactinellid sponge reefs are a significant component of the seafloor mosaic. Based on the three criteria for reef identification (positive relief, low backscatter strength, and acoustic transparency) it is shown that the total reef area is 48 km2. The largest cluster of identified reefs is located within Chatham Sound sensu stricto and covers more than 27 km2 of seafloor in water depths of 35-170 m. It includes reefs up to 25 m high and is designated the Chatham Sound reef complex. The authors describe some of the wide range of morphologies in this reef complex and the nearby reefs. Oceanographic modelling shows that the seafloor in the Chatham Sound reef complex has developed in a region of directionally variable tidal currents, although surface currents show a persistent northward flow of a low-salinity plume. Several small reefs have developed within 3 km of the Skeena River delta, where sedimentation rates are more than 1 cm/a. Comparison with newly discovered reefs in the region reveals the geomorphic variability of glass sponge reefs.
Summary(Plain Language Summary, not published)
Systematic mapping of the Chatham Sound region, British Columbia, shows that hexactinellid sponge reefs are a significant component of the seafloor mosaic. Based on the three criteria for reef identification (positive relief, low backscatter strength, and acoustic transparency) it is shown that the total reef area is 48 km2. The largest cluster of identified reefs is located within Chatham Sound sensu stricto and covers more than 27 km2 of sea floor in water depths of 35¿170 m. It includes reefs up to 25 m-high and is designated the Chatham Sound Reef Complex (CSRC). We describe some of the wide-range of morphologies in the CSRC and the nearby reefs.
GEOSCAN ID306310

 
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