Collaborative Research: Stratigraphic Controls on Freshwater Beneath the Continental Shelf

该项目将使用高分辨率多道和线性调频地震数据来描述玛莎？s葡萄园，马萨诸塞州。这些沉积物中含有大量的淡水含水层，与环境不平衡。该研究将联合收割机这些地球物理方法与水文模拟相结合，以更好地描述这一独特含水层的分布，化学和定位机制。从模拟的努力，定量预测将在地质时期内影响地下水流动的强迫机制，在这样的含水层。这些含水层迄今为止没有得到多少研究，可能为沿海环境提供水和养分来源，因此是水循环的一个重要但被忽视的组成部分。更广泛的影响：淡水含水层有可能成为沿海地区人类消费的重要资源。该研究将支持三个PI的每个机构的研究生。

This project will use high resolution multiple-channel (MCS) and chirp seismic data to characterize the stratigraphy and sedimentation patterns of continental shelf sediments off Martha?s Vineyard, Massachusetts. These sediments host an extensive freshwater aquifer which is out of equilibrium with its environment. The research will combine these geophysical methods with hydrological modeling to better describe the distribution, chemistry, and the emplacement mechanisms of this unique aquifer. From the modeling efforts quantitative predictions will be made of the forcing mechanisms that affect groundwater flow in such aquifers over geological time periods. Such aquifers have not received much study to date and could potentially provide a source of water and nutrients to marine coastal environments and thus be an important and overlooked component of the water cycle. Broader impacts: Freshwater aquifers as these could potentially serve as an important resource for human consumption in coastal regions. The research will support graduate students at each of the institutions of the three PIs.