The offshore, as defined in the Natural History of Nova Scotia, consists of the submerged portions of the Nova Scotian continental shelf (Scotian Shelf), extending approximately to a depth of 200m, and parts of the Scotian Slope and Laurentian Channel. This section includes an overview of offshore geology as a basis for understanding the physical landscape, and a description of offshore landforms and sediment distribution. T2.7 provides additional information on the bedrock geology. T3.3 includes a description of the glacial processes responsible for sediment distribution offshore.

This Document Includes:

Geology
Physiography
Offshore Landforms
Coastal Plain
Glacial Features
Modern Bedforms: Sand waves and ridges, submarine canyons, pockmarks, shell beds
Offshore Sediment Distribution
Atlantic Ocean and Bay of Fundy

Glacial Deposits
Deposits assosciated with maximum exposure of the Continental Shelf
Deposits assosciated with post-glacial marine transgression

Northumberland Strait

Glacial Deposits
Goldthwait Sea Sediments
Northumberland Strait Sediments

Cultural Factors

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Additional Keywords:
Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Pleistocene, glacier, Gully, Sable Island Bank, Cretaceous, Tertiary, Quaternary, hydrocarbons, erosion, moraines, sea-level, seafloor.

Associated Topics:

T2.7 Offshore Geology
T3.4 Glaciation, Deglaciation and sea level changes
T4.1 Post-glacial climatic change
T12.4 Glacial Deposits and resources

Associated Habitats:

H1.1 Open Water
H2.1 Rocky Shore
H2.2 Boulder/Cobble Shore
H2.3 Sandy Shore