Using High-Resolution Seismic and GPR Methods in Sedimentological Studies of the Geneva Bay Area (Switzerland)

Onshore/offshore ground-penetrating radar methods and offshore high-resolution reflection seismic methods are used to study Holocene sedimentological processes in the Geneva Bay area (Switzerland). Archaeological and borehole data provide calibration for the geophysical data. New information is contributed to previous studies of lake-level fluctuations and their possible paleoclimatic link. The profiles reveal images of laminated Holocene deposits overlying glaciolacustrine units, which are characterized by wavy or discontinuous seismic facies. Beach facies, indicating paleoshoreline positions, are visible in onshore and offshore profiles. A transgressive event is indicated in onshore excavations and GPR images.