How understanding past landscapes might inform present-day site investigations: a case study from Dogger Bank, southern central North Sea

Cotterill, C.; Phillips, Emrys; James, Leo; Forsberg, C.F.; Tjelta, T.I.. 2017 How understanding past landscapes might inform present-day site investigations: a case study from Dogger Bank, southern central North Sea. Near surface geophysics, 15 (4). 403-413. 10.3997/1873-0604.2017032

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Abstract/Summary

The integration of geophysical and geotechnical datasets acquired during a site survey for the Dogger Bank wind farm has enabled a new litho- and seismo-stratigraphy to be established. Although previously believed to be a relatively simple “layer-cake”, the data reveal that the sedimentary sequence within the foundation zone includes a complex series of buried landscapes with implications for both foundation siting and design. The most significant is a Weichselian glacially derived landscape dominated by a large thrust-block moraine complex buried beneath a thin Holocene sequence. This glacial landscape profoundly affects the structure and physical properties of sediments within the foundation zone due to locally intense glaciotectonic deformation and the occurrence of sub-aerially desiccated horizons recording fluctuating palaeo-climatic conditions. Understanding these landscapes, coupled with the geophysical and geotechnical data, enables the development of a predictive “geo-model” that may be used to target areas of uncertainty, reducing the requirement for boreholes (over Cone Penetration Tests) at every potential foundation location.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.3997/1873-0604.2017032
Date made live:	19 Dec 2017 15:39 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/518759

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