SEISMIC REFLECTIONS FROM OFFSHORE OF PROVINCETOWN, CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS

In the Spring of 2012, marine seismic data were acquired near Provincetown, MA to extend geology mapped onshore into the offshore subsurface. This seismic data was analyzed predominantly for the shallow (< ~50 ms) section. We plotted the seismic data to 250 ms to see if any deeper reflected energy was present. In many of the seismic profiles, strong reflections are present at two-way times between about 70 ms to greater than 150 ms. Interestingly, these reflectors are not present in all the seismic transects. The lack of reflections may indicate that the energy did not penetrate to these times, that multiples from overlying sediments mask these weaker reflections, or that the reflecting interface is discontinuous beneath the region. The deeper reflectors are observed beneath the near shore marine environment as well as extending further offshore beneath deeper water. Multiples often overprint or mask these reflections from beneath the deeper water. We interpret these deeper arrivals as returning from the contact with Cretaceous rocks or perhaps from within the thick package of Pleistocene glacial sediments.