Finally, physical oceanographic measurements will be conducted in selected areas to evaluate the dominant processes responsible for forming the sea-floor patterns. This project will utilize recently compiled USGS digital data and modeling techniques to develop a new generation of numerical models to understand and predict the depositional, thermal, mechanical, and resource evolution of the East Coast continental margin and to placing depositional patterns in a regional and global context. An ongoing component of this project is to continue compressing multichannel field tapes into a more efficient, compact, storage media. No major field programs are proposed. E. Coast Syn.
Gas hydrate is a natural, icelike material formed of methane and water in deep sea sediments.
It contains immense amounts of methane, is a potential energy resource and a significant greenhouse gas, and the hydrate strongly affects the strength of sediments and probably influences landsliding.