Regional Quaternary submarine geomorphology in the Florida Keys

Research Article| July 01, 2003 Regional Quaternary submarine geomorphology in the Florida Keys Barbara H. Lidz; Barbara H. Lidz 1U.S. Geological Survey, 600 Fourth Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Christopher D. Reich; Christopher D. Reich 1U.S. Geological Survey, 600 Fourth Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Eugene A. Shinn Eugene A. Shinn 1U.S. Geological Survey, 600 Fourth Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Barbara H. Lidz 1U.S. Geological Survey, 600 Fourth Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA Christopher D. Reich 1U.S. Geological Survey, 600 Fourth Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA Eugene A. Shinn 1U.S. Geological Survey, 600 Fourth Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 06 May 2002 Revision Received: 06 Dec 2002 Accepted: 09 Dec 2002 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2003) 115 (7): 845–866. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2003)115<0845:RQSGIT>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 06 May 2002 Revision Received: 06 Dec 2002 Accepted: 09 Dec 2002 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Barbara H. Lidz, Christopher D. Reich, Eugene A. Shinn; Regional Quaternary submarine geomorphology in the Florida Keys. GSA Bulletin 2003;; 115 (7): 845–866. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2003)115<0845:RQSGIT>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract High-quality seismic reflection profiles fill a major gap in geophysical data along the south Florida shelf, allowing updated interpretations of the history of the Quaternary coral reef system. Incorporation of the new and existing data sets provides the basis for detailed color maps of the Pleistocene surface and thickness of overlying Holocene accretions. The maps cover the Florida Keys to a margin-wide upper-slope terrace (30 to 40 m deep) and extend from The Elbow Reef (north Key Largo) to Rebecca Shoal (Gulf of Mexico). The data indicate that Pleistocene bedrock is several meters deeper to the southwest than to the north east, yet in general, Holocene sediments are ∼3 to 4 m thick shelf-wide. The Pleistocene map demonstrates the significance of a westward-dipping bedrock surface to Holocene flooding history and coral reef evolution. Seismic facies show evidence for two possible Holocene stillstands.Aerial photographs provide information on the seabed surface, much of which is below seismic resolution. The photographs define a prominent, regional nearshore rock ledge that extends ∼2.5 km seaward from the keys' shoreline. They show that bands of rock ridges exist along the outer shelf and on the upper-slope terrace. The photographs also reveal four tracts of outlier reefs on the terrace, one more than had been documented seismically. Seismic and photographic data indicate the tracts are >200 km long, nearly four times longer than previously thought. New interpretations provide insights into a youngest possible terrace age (ca. 175 ka?) and the likelihood that precise ages of oxygen isotope substage 5e oöid tidal-bar and coral reef components may differ. The tidal-bar/reef complex forms the Florida Keys. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.