of the storm is not readily discernible due to the lack of an 

 identifiable pre-storm datum. 



21. The frequency distribution of surface boundary 

 roughness values for all post-storm stations is shown in Figure 

 3-16. The major modal value is 0.8 cm; this compares to a major 

 mode of 0.4 cm in August and apparently reflects enhanced surface 

 roughness due to the storm. 



22. The frequency distribution of RPD depths is shown in 

 Figure 3-16 and the spatial distribution of these values is 

 presented in Figure 3-17. RPD depths on the seafloor surrounding 

 the disposal mounds are lower than those observed in August (see 

 Figure 3-10) . Moreover, four stations exhibit no apparent RPD, 

 indicating that the sediment column (and perhaps the near-bottom 

 waters) are anoxic or hypoxic. All stations exhibited measurable 

 redox layers in August. Three of these low oxygen stations are 

 near the center of a disposal mound. This reduction in RPD 

 depths may be related to the storm-induced erosion of surface 

 oxidized sediment layers. Based on the August RPD depths, the 

 removal of the top 2-3 cm of sediment would place highly reduced 

 subsurface sediments at the interface (Figure 3-18) . The two 

 disposal mounds ("A" and "C") which show the most evidence of 

 physical disturbance also exhibit shallow RPD's. Shallow RPD's 

 at several fringe stations (e.g. A-400N, C-400N, C-400S, C- 

 400S/200E) also suggest some localized small-scale erosion (1-3 

 cm) in these areas. 



23. The distribution of infaunal successional stages is 

 shown in Figure 3-19. Interestingly, Stage III infauna are 

 apparent on the disposal mounds, but not on the surrounding 

 seafloor. This pattern is not readily explained. However, as in 

 August, the area surveyed, taken as a whole, consists 

 predominately of Stage I seres (77%) . 



24. The frequency distribution of the post-storm 

 Organism-Sediment Index values is given in Figure 3-16, and the 

 mapped distribution of these values is given in Figure 3-20. The 

 indices range widely from -3 to +9 indicating a mosaic of benthic 

 conditions. However, throughout most of the area surveyed, the 

 OSI's are low (most values are less than +6). This reflects the 

 shallow RPD values, the low bottom water dissolved oxygen levels, 

 and the lack of high-order successional infauna. Overall, the 

 benthic community inhabiting the survey area region appears to 

 have been markedly stressed by the effects of Hurricane Gloria. 

 Future REMOTS surveys should be able to document the persistence 

 of the storm's impact on this region. 



3.3 WLIS Transect 



25. The REMOTS WLIS transect extended from the entrance of 

 Norwalk harbor to the WLIS disposal site (Figure 3-21) . The 

 purpose of this transect was to determine the distribution of 

 storm-induced bottom disturbance features as a function of depth 



