Seismic geomorphology of the shallow subsurface in the Southern North Sea – Implications for offshore engineering

Project description

Seismic geomorphology is a rapidly evolving discipline that facilitates the study of the subsurface using plan view images, and has revolutionized our understanding of basin evolution over the last decades. A multitude of high-quality datasets have been collected offshore the Netherlands, an area with a complex geological evolution in the mid- and late Quaternary. Located at or close to the southern extent of the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet, the processes that form the subsurface offshore the Netherlands are dominated by the built-up and melting of these ice masses.

Here, we use an open-access Extremely-High-Resolution three-dimensional (EHR3D) seismic dataset (called TNW) to test a variety of analytical techniques to image and visualize depositional environments and features relevant for offshore infrastructure. We integrate the identified geomorphological expressions with already existing geotechnical cone penetration tests and geological boreholes of the site. The goals are to (i) interpret the EHR3D dataset with the seismic interpretation software Petrel and Paleoscan, and generate 10s of subsurface horizons (of glacigenic origin), (ii) map and characterize buried landforms in ArcGIS, (iii) establish a seismic stratigraphy for the site, including tying of the seismic surfaces to existing radiocarbon results of dated boreholes, and (iv) study the properties of glacigenic landforms by correlating geotechnical data with geophysical and geological results. The project further compares its findings with paleogeographic reconstructions of the sites in close vicinity (e.g., Ijmuiden, Nederwiek). The outcome of the project is (i) a comparison of glacial processes related to the three large glaciations in the area (Elsterian, Saalian, and Weichselian), ii) a paleogeographic reconstruction offshore the Netherlands, and iii) a catalogue of engineering properties of different glacigenic landforms.

Proposed course plan during the master's degree (60 ECTS):

Below are listed some suggested courses. However, courses will be decided upon after discussion between supervisor
and student and the interest/background of the student. GEOV272 and GEO231, however, are needed. GEOV230 and
GEOV300 are recommended.

GEOV272 (10 stp) * Seismic Interpretation
GEOV300 (5 stp) Scientific writing and communication in Earth Science
GEOV222 (10 stp) Palaeoclimatology
GEOV231 (10 stp) Marine Geological Field-and Laboratory Course
GEOV364 (5 stp) Advanced basin analysis
GEVO261 (10 stp) Basin analysis and subsurface interpretation
GEOV217 (10 stp) Geohazards
GEOV230 (10 stp) Glacial geology and geomorphology
GEOV361 (10 stp) Sequence Stratigraphy

Field- lab- and analysis

All seismic data and well information are available for the project (see
project description).