Recognition of beach and nearshore depositional features of Chesapeake Bay

Beach and nearshore depositional features are being mapped with the objectives of determining a quick-look analysis of littoral drift and sedimentation patterns in areas of little or no data. Evaluation of beach and nearshore features aid in the selection of small boat harbors, shoreline protective structures, and general coastal zone development. Through ERTS-1 aircraft support imagery, beach depositional features mapped are cuspate forelands, welded beach ridges, and recurved spits. The nearshore depositional features exhibit a bar and trough topography with three distinct types of sedimentary structures; longshore, transverse, and reticulated bars. Synoptic coverage of beach and nearshore depositional features by ERTS-1 data help in determining the general sedimentation patterns, growth of the beach features and stability of the bar and trough topography

Research and investigation of geology, mineral, and water resources of Maryland

The authors have identified the following significant results. Field work in Baltimore County revealed that the signature returns of serpentinitic and nonserpentinitic rocks correlates with the vegetation cover and land use pattern. In Maryland Piedmont, bedrock lithology and structure are enhanced only to the extent that land use is geologically dictated. Two prominent sets of linear features are detected on ERTS-1 imagery at N 45 deg E and N 20 deg E. Beaches of Chesapeake Bay are classified as broad and narrow beaches based on the width of the backshore zone. It is shown by comparing historical shorelines of Ocean City, from the inlet to the Maryland-Delaware line that reversal zones of erosion and accretion occur at different locations for different periods. High reflectance levels (high marsh-high topographic areas) for the lower Eastern Shore are found to be distributed as two distinct trending linear ridge systems. Observations of MSS band 5 dated 9 April 1974 exhibited an unique sedimentation pattern for Chesapeake Bay. Following a 1.5 inch rainfall, heavy concentration of suspended sediments is observed on the imagery, particularly in the area of the turbidity maximum

[Chesapeake Bay] Water Content

This digital image was produced in the Summer of 2012 by the Maryland State Archives (MSA) from the original map held by the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS). We are indebted to the staff of the MGS and MSA for helping us make this these images available.This map is Plate 4 from Kerhin, R.T. , “The Surficial Sediments of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland: Physical Characteristics and Sediment Budget”. Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey, 1988 (Report of Investigations No. 48)

[Chesapeake Bay] Location of Surficial Sediment Samples

This digital image was produced in the Summer of 2012 by the Maryland State Archives (MSA) from the original map held by the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS). We are indebted to the staff of the MGS and MSA for helping us make this these images available.This map is Plate 2 from Kerhin, R.T. , “The Surficial Sediments of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland: Physical Characteristics and Sediment Budget”. Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey, 1988 (Report of Investigations No. 48)

[Chesapeake Bay] Sediment Distribution

This digital image was produced in the Summer of 2012 by the Maryland State Archives (MSA) from the original map held by the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS). We are indebted to the staff of the MGS and MSA for helping us make this these images available.This map is Plate 3 from Kerhin, R.T. , “The Surficial Sediments of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland: Physical Characteristics and Sediment Budget”. Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey, 1988 (Report of Investigations No. 48)

[Chesapeake Bay] Organic Carbon Content

This digital image was produced in the Summer of 2012 by the Maryland State Archives (MSA) from the original map held by the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS). We are indebted to the staff of the MGS and MSA for helping us make this these images available.This map is Plate 5 from Kerhin, R.T. , “The Surficial Sediments of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland: Physical Characteristics and Sediment Budget”. Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey, 1988 (Report of Investigations No. 48)

[Chesapeake Bay] Patterns of erosion-deposition, >2.4 meters per century

This digital image was produced in the Summer of 2012 by the Maryland State Archives (MSA) from the original map held by the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS). We are indebted to the staff of the MGS and MSA for helping us make this these images available.This map is Plate 8 from Kerhin, R.T. , “The Surficial Sediments of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland: Physical Characteristics and Sediment Budget”. Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey, 1988 (Report of Investigations No. 48)

[Chesapeake Bay] Bathymetry

This digital image was produced in the Summer of 2012 by the Maryland State Archives (MSA) from the original map held by the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS). We are indebted to the staff of the MGS and MSA for helping us make this these images available.This map is Plate 1 from Kerhin, R.T. , “The Surficial Sediments of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland: Physical Characteristics and Sediment Budget”. Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey, 1988 (Report of Investigations No. 48)

[Chesapeake Bay] Bathymetry

This digital image was produced in the Summer of 2012 by the Maryland State Archives (MSA) from the original map held by the Maryland Geological Survey (MGS). We are indebted to the staff of the MGS and MSA for helping us make this these images available.This map is Plate 1 from Kerhin, R.T. , “The Surficial Sediments of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland: Physical Characteristics and Sediment Budget”. Baltimore: Maryland Geological Survey, 1988 (Report of Investigations No. 48)