Buzzards Bay

Vineyard Sound

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70°40'W

70°35'W

71°W

41°35'N

41°30'N

41°30'N

41°25'N

41°20'N

70°35'W

70°40'W

70°45'W

70°50'W

70°50'W

70°55'W

70°55'W

71°W

41°35'N

41°25'N

41°20'N

Cuttyhunk

Island

Nashawena

Island

Pasque

Island

Naushon

Island

Woods

Hole

Not to be used for navigation. Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is 

for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Suggested citation: Pendleton, E.A., Andrews, B.D., Ackerman, S.D., and Twichell, D.C., 2014, 

Bathymetry of the waters surrounding the Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey 

Scientific Investigations Map 3286, scale 1:72,000 (http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3286).

ISSN 2329-132X (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3286

Printed on recycled paper

Bathymetry of the Waters Surrounding the Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts

By

Elizabeth A. Pendleton, Brian D. Andrews, Seth D. Ackerman, and David C. Twichell

2014

Discussion

 The Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts that separate The bathymetric data used to create the hillshaded relief 

Vineyard Sound from Buzzards Bay are the remnants of a image of the seafloor were collected by the U.S. Geological 

moraine (unconsolidated glacial sediment deposited at an ice Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of 

sheet margin; Oldale and O’Hara, 1984). The most recent Coastal Zone Management and supplemented with National 

glacial ice retreat in this region occurred between 25,000 and Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hydrographic survey 

20,000 years ago, and the subsequent rise in sea level that data. The map shows the detailed bathymetry of Buzzards Bay 

followed deglaciation caused differences in the seafloor and Vineyard Sound with depth soundings shown on a 

character between Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound. The 5-meter-per-pixel grid. Depths are coded by color where the 

relatively rough seafloor of Vineyard Sound reflects deepest areas are in blue and the shallowest areas are in orange. 

widespread exposure of glacial material. Shoals mark the The aerial photography for the Elizabeth Islands and 

location of recessional ice contact material, and deep channels Massachusetts mainland were obtained from the Massachusetts 

illustrate where meltwater drainage incised glacial deposits. Office of Geographic Information.

Following ice retreat from the Elizabeth Islands, a glacial lake Data collected during this statewide cooperative project have 

formed across the mouth of Buzzards Bay, when the lake been released in a series of USGS open-file reports. These 

drained, it scoured two deep channels at the southern end of publications and information regarding geologic mapping in 

the bay. Massachusetts can be obtained from the Coastal and Marine 

 Sea level rise began to inundate Vineyard Sound and Geology Program’s Web site 

Buzzards Bay about 8,000 years ago and continues to modify (http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/coastal_mass/).

the modern seafloor (Robb and Oldale, 1977). Fine-grained 

marine and estuarine sediments were deposited in the partially References Cited protected setting of Buzzards Bay. These deposits, up to 10 

meters in thickness, buried the high-relief glacial landscape Robb, J.M. and Oldale, R.N., 1977, Preliminary geologic maps, and created the generally smooth modern seafloor. In contrast, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous 

the Vineyard Sound of today experiences strong tidal currents, Field Studies Map 889, 2 sheets.

which largely prevent the deposition of fine-grained material 

and constantly rework the glacial sand and gravel within Oldale, R.N, and O’Hara, C.J., 1984, Glaciotectonic origin of the 

shoals. The seafloor of the sound largely reflects the contours Massachusetts coastal end moraines and a fluctuating late 

of the ancient glaciated landscape that existed before sea level Wisconsinan ice margin: Geological Society of America Bulletin, 

began to rise. v. 95, no. 1, p. 61–74.

Map location

Massachusetts

CONTOUR INTERVAL 10 METERS

MEAN LOWER LOW WATER TIDAL DATUM

10,000 5,000 0 10,000 FEET

4 2 0 4 KILOMETERS

SCALE 1:72,000

Base from U.S. Geological Survey aerial 2 1 0 2 MILES

photography 2009, 30-centimeter resolution 

World Geodetic System 1984 datum (WGS 84)

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 19N 

Bathymetry, in meters below mean lower low water

EXPLANATION

U.S. Department of the Interior Scientific Investigations Map 3286

U.S. Geological Survey

¢

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Thirty meter depth 

Ten meter depth 

Twenty meter depth

Bathymetric contours, 10 meter isopleth interval

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