The submarine portions of ice-marginal moraines and their distal sediments have been studied in the fjords between Stavanger and Åndalsnes, western Norway (59°-62°30'N). Echosounder, sparker, and high-resolution seismic profiles are used to record the thickness, morphology and structure of the deposits, which are divided into four main seismostratigraphic sequences describing the different phases of sedimentation. Evidence of several ice-push events is observed in some of the fjords, and models of glacial dynamics are presented for deep water and shallow water environments. Volumes of the different sedimentary facies have been estimated for some of the fjords. Coarse sediments (mainly glacioftuvial foreset beds) represent less than 10% of the Younger Dryas sequence. Dating of the moraines is accomplished through morphological correlation to the established chronostratigraphy of terrestrial sections.

Inge Aarseth, Department of Geology, University of Bergen, Allégt. 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway;
Per Kristian Austbø, Fylkesmannen i Rogaland, Miljøvernavdelingen, Postboks 0059, N-4001 Stavanger, Norway;
Harald Risnes, Petro-Data AS, P.O. Box 585, Madla, N -4040 HafrsfJord, Norway.