Collaborative Research: Community-Based 3D Imaging that Ties Clinoform Geometry to Facies Successions and Neogene Sea-Level Change

PROLOGUE This resubmission has benefited from constructive input by 8 mail reviewers, a panel summary, and NSF feedback (fall 2011). In response, we amplify three issues: 1) 3D imaging will detect nearshore features (e.g., meandering rivers, estuary complexes, lagoons/barrier islands, incised shelf valleys, etc.) that can be tied to IODP Exp313 sites M27-M29; mapping these features and associated facies, which developed during a time of known glacioeustatic variation, is a key both to understanding the evolution of siliciclastic systems and quantifying eustatic changes preserved in clinoformal architecture; 2) the proposed 3D survey area is 50% larger than in our initial submission, with no increase in survey time (34 days), as a result of revised estimates of in-fill shooting and downtime based on well-known histories of weather, currents, ship traffic and marine mammal activity in the proposed study region offshore New Jersey (NJ); and 3) a robust collaboration with the aligned GeoPRISMS community, including at-sea participation and pre-and post-data acquisition workshops; all activities are designed to help educators, young investigators and students understand the value of calibrating models of stratigraphic facies successions, as well as to engage them in theoretical and hands-on learning experiences with 3D seismic acquisition/processing. The goal throughout this project will be to optimize community use of the proposed product -a 3D data volume tied to continuously cored/logged/dated siliciclastic clinoforms that evolved at a stable passive margin during a time of independently measured glacioeustatic change.