Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Evolution Of Platt Shoals Northern North Carolina Shelf: Inferences From Areal Geology, Philip C. Sears

OES Theses and Dissertations

The evolution of Platt Shoals, a complex ridge and trough system on the south side of the Albemarle Shelf Valley, was determined and the modern hydraulic regime was inferred. The methods used were surficial grain size, 11 vibracores, seismic profiling and bathymetric maps. Platt Shoals developed in a three step process. The first, step was the formation of a substrate of late Pleistocene regressive deposits from 15,000 to 30,000 yr B. P. The second step, occurring approximately 11,000 yr B. P., was the formation of estuary mouth shoals of the ancestral Albemarle River. Between 4,4.00 to 5,000 yr B. P., …

Particle Size Distribution And Small-Scale Bed-Forms On Sand Waves, Chesapeake Bay Entrance, Virginia, John T. Wells

OES Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between sediment texture and topography has been studied along five series of sand waves in Chesapeake Bay entrance, Virginia. Results indicate that two types of sand waves with reference to mean grain size are present: sand waves with coarse sediment on crests and fine in troughs, and sand waves with fine sediment on crests and coarse in troughs. Asymmetrical, migrating sand waves exhibit the first type; near-symmetrical, non-migrating sand waves exhibit the second type. In general, bimodal sediment is present on crests of migrating sand waves and in troughs of stationary sand waves. There is a progressive decrease …

Phycosociology Of The Estuarine Eulittoral Of Smith Island Virginia: A Quantitative Approach To Seasonal Periodicity, William M. Willis

OES Theses and Dissertations

Seasonal periodicity of benthic algae of the estuarine eulittoral of Smith Island, Virginia, (37°07’55” N, 75°55’ W), has been investigated on a qualitative and quantitative basis. Forty-three taxa of benthic eucaryiotic algae were found to be present; of these, twenty-one were quantitatively significant at least once during the course of the study. Five species represent additions to the Virginia flora, and, at the same time, also represent southern extensions of the known U.S. east coast range. The range of three other species has been extended, though they are not new to Virginia.

Review of the literature suggests two models of …

Food And Feeding Of Fishes From Magothy Bay, Virginia, Joseph J. Kimmel

OES Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of The Halocline Structure In Lower Chesapeake Bay, Samuel Bowen Heltzel

OES Theses and Dissertations

A portion of the Chesapeake Bay from 37°20’N latitude to the entrance was investigated to determine the halocline structure, the effects on this structure through the tidal sequence, and seasonal variations. A determination of the stage of slack water during which maximum extension of the halocline occurred was also made. This was accomplished by looking at the salinity distribution at the halocline upper limit, the mean depth to the halocline, and seasonal salinity contours drawn for tidal increments. By comparing salinity/depth gradients and salinity-depth vertical profiles, an attempt was made to relate seasonal and tidal variations to the halocline structure. …

A Seasonal Distributional Survey Of The Epiphytic Diatoms Of The Outer Banks Region Of North Carolina With Respect To Temperature And Salinity, Charles Welles Belin Jr.

OES Theses and Dissertations

This study was initiated to investigate epiphytic diatoms at selected stations along the North Carolina coast and bay region. The relationships between these organisms and the season of the year and salinity and temperature of the water in which they were found are considered. The special affinity between the epiphytic diatoms and their host plants is also discussed. The specific data were analyzed statistically via linear correlation coefficients, graphs of least squares-best fit, and multiple linear regression analysis.

From the statistical tests, it was found that the mean number of epiphytic diatoms shows a significant multiple linear regression with respect …

Seismic Refraction Study Of Post-Pliocene Stratigraphy, Dismal Swamp, Virginia, William Brian Fraser

OES Theses and Dissertations

This study examines Pliocene-Pleistocene lithostratigraphy and the Yorktown unconformity within the Dismal Swamp by means of remote sensing analysis, Wyrobek-Gardner seismic refraction profiling and split-spoon coring. Pre-Sangamon fluvial/tidal channel deposits are not present and the Yorktown unconformity dips irregularly southeastward at 0.35 meters/kilometer (2 feet/mile) from a high at 4 meters above sea level to a low of -1 meter (+12 to -2 ft) below sea level. The marker velocity for the Yorktown Formation is 1600 mps (5250 fps) and regression of seismic depths of the Yorktown Formation with corresponding split-spoon depths yields a high correlation. Short line upper layer …