North Sea tunnel valleys – architecture, genesis and prediction (NOARG)

Buried, glacial tunnel valleys occur widespread in the North Sea and are a potential geohazard for offshore constructions and related infrastructure. The NOARG project, recently funded by Geocenter Danmark, aims to utilize existing data, available geological information and recently acquired ultra-high resolution seismic data to map buried tunnel valleys and related, shallow subsurface features to study their evolution. The objectives are: (1) to improve the definition of the main Last Glacial Maximum stationary line offshore western Jutland and connect it to known ice margin positions in the marine sector of other North Sea countries; (2) identify different generations of tunnel valleys based on seismic stratigraphy and sediment core data (e.g. 14C ages and biostratigraphy); (3) document potential linkages to deeper tectonic structures by comparing valley trends with deep-seated faults identified by automated 3D seismic data analyses; (4) to test a hypothesis that a connection exists between deeper faults and salt-structures and location of tunnel valleys. Based on GEUS advisory work, NOARG will deliver research that can help to facilitate marine spatial planning in the North Sea.