E.C. Clukey | Geology Reports

USGS2013

Liquefaction potential of the Yukon Prodelta, Bering Sea

The Yukon prodelta is exposed to large storm waves propagating northward from the southern Bering Sea. Shallow water depths of the prodelta enhance the transfer of energy from the surface waves to the bottom. As the bottom deposits are cyclically loaded by large storm waves, potential decrease in their resistance to shear could ultimately cause liquefaction. A preliminary assessment of the engineering properties of Yukon sandy silt suggests that the prodelta deposits may be susceptible to wave induced liquefaction during severe storm events. In addition, erosion and are suspension of sediment in the prodelta may be intensified because of the liquefaction process.

Conference Paper↗

USGS1982

Geotechnical characteristics of bottom sediments in the northeastern Bering Sea.

Sediment of Holocene age derived from the Yukon River, consisting dominantly of silty fine sand and sandy silt, covers the bottom of central and western Norton Sound, which is a high energy environment involving extensive ice loading, high waves, and strong bottom currents. The sediment characteristics indicate that it is susceptible to liquefaction during major storms. Substantially finer grained, weak and highly compressible sediment of Holocene age covers eastern Norton Sound and the Port Clarence embayment, which are low energy environments. Pleistocene peaty deposits underlie the Holocene and late Pleistocene deposits in both Norton Sound and Chirikov Basin and are somewhat overconsolidated. The presence of gas indicates high in situ pore pressure and hence low material strength.-from Authors

Geologie en Mijnbouw↗