Socio-economic, Terrestrial and Physical Environment Setting `Table of Contents 4.0 SOCIO-ECONOMIC, TERRESTRIAL AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT SETTING ...... 4-1 4.1 Onshore Environment ........................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Socio-economic Environment .................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1.1 Community Physical Infrastructure and Services ........................................... 4-1 4.1.1.2 Employment and Labour ................................................................................. 4-3 4.1.1.3 Summary ....................................................................................................... 4-10 4.1.2 Terrestrial Environment ............................................................................................ 4-10 4.2 Nearshore Environment ...................................................................................... 4-11 4.2.1 Atmospheric Environment ........................................................................................4-11 4.2.1.1 Climate Overview .......................................................................................... 4-11 4.2.1.2 Air Temperature ............................................................................................ 4-15 4.2.1.3 Wind Climatology .......................................................................................... 4-18 4.2.1.4 Precipitation and Severe Weather ................................................................ 4-33 4.2.1.5 Visibility ......................................................................................................... 4-39 4.2.1.6 Vessel Icing Potential .................................................................................... 4-44 4.2.1.7 Tropical Systems ........................................................................................... 4-46 4.2.2 Oceanic Environment ................................................................................................ 4-55 4.2.2.1 Bathymetry .................................................................................................... 4-55 4.2.2.2 Waves ........................................................................................................... 4-57 4.2.2.3 Tsunamis ....................................................................................................... 4-80 4.2.2.4 Currents ......................................................................................................... 4-84 4.2.2.5 Tides, Storm Surges ...................................................................................... 4-96 4.2.2.6 Physical and Chemical Properties .............................................................. 4-101 4.2.3 Wind, Waves and Air Temperature Extremes ....................................................... 4-105 4.2.3.1 Wind ............................................................................................................ 4-105 4.2.3.2 Waves ......................................................................................................... 4-107 4.2.3.3 Air Temperature.........................................................................................4-109 4.2.4 Sea Ice and Icebergs ............................................................................................... 4-110 4.2.4.1 Sea Ice Conditions in Placentia Bay ........................................................... 4-112 4.2.4.2 Iceberg Conditions in Placentia Bay ........................................................... 4-115 4.2.5 Geological Setting – Placentia Bay and Argentia ................................................ 4-116 4.2.5.1 Data Sets - Placentia Bay and Argentia ...................................................... 4-119 4.2.5.2 Surficial Geology – Placentia Bay and Argentia ......................................... 4-124 4.2.5.3 Subsurface Geology – Placentia Bay and Argentia .................................... 4-132 Page i of xii Socio-economic, Terrestrial and Physical Environment Setting 4.3 Offshore ............................................................................................................. 4-133 4.3.1 Atmospheric Environment ......................................................................................4-133 4.3.1.1 Data Sources ...............................................................................................4-135 4.3.1.2 Wind Climatology ........................................................................................ 4-138 4.3.1.3 Air and Sea Temperature ............................................................................ 4-143 4.3.1.4 Precipitation .................................................................................................4-146 4.3.1.5 Icing ............................................................................................................. 4-148 4.3.1.6 Visibility ....................................................................................................... 4-150 4.3.1.7 Tropical Systems ......................................................................................... 4-152 4.3.2 Oceanic Environment .............................................................................................. 4-155 4.3.2.1 Bathymetry .................................................................................................. 4-155 4.3.2.2 Waves ......................................................................................................... 4-157 4.3.2.3 Tsunamis ..................................................................................................... 4-165 4.3.2.4 Currents ....................................................................................................... 4-168 4.3.2.5 Tides and Storm Surges ............................................................................. 4-178 4.3.2.6 Physical and Chemical Properties .............................................................. 4-182 4.3.3 Wind and Waves Extremes ..................................................................................... 4-193 4.3.3.1 Wind ............................................................................................................ 4-194 4.3.3.2 Waves ......................................................................................................... 4-196 4.3.3.3 Extreme Temperature Analysis ................................................................... 4-199 4.3.4 Sea Ice and Icebergs ............................................................................................... 4-202 4.3.4.1 Sea Ice ........................................................................................................ 4-203 4.3.4.2 Icebergs ....................................................................................................... 4-217 4.3.5 Geological Setting – White Rose Field .................................................................. 4-232 4.3.5.1 Surficial Geology – White Rose .................................................................. 4-233 4.3.5.2 Subsurface Geology – White Rose ............................................................. 4-236 4.3.5.3 Site Stratigraphy and Soil Profile – White Rose .......................................... 4-240 4.3.6 Near-surface Geotechnics – White Rose .............................................................. 4-246 4.3.6.1 2005 White Rose Development Jack-up Rig Foundation Analyses ........... 4-246 4.3.6.2 2001 White Rose Offshore Geotechnical Investigation .............................. 4-246 4.3.7 Ice Scour Distribution - White Rose ...................................................................... 4-248 4.3.8 Seismicity ................................................................................................................. 4-249 4.3.8.1 Seismotectonic Setting ................................................................................ 4-249 4.3.8.2 Regional Seismic Hazard Assessments ..................................................... 4-255 4.3.8.3 Discussion ................................................................................................... 4-258 4.3.9 Climate Change........................................................................................................ 4-259 Page ii of xii Socio-economic, Terrestrial and Physical Environment Setting 4.3.9.1 Sea-Level Rise ............................................................................................ 4-261 4.3.9.2 Waves ......................................................................................................... 4-263 4.3.9.3 Sea Surface Temperatures ......................................................................... 4-266 4.3.9.4 Icebergs ....................................................................................................... 4-268 List of Figures Figure 4-1 Predominant Storm Tracks Affecting Atlantic Canada..................................... 4-11 Figure 4-2 Surface Circulation Features in the Western North Atlantic............................. 4-12 Figure 4-3 Location of Nearshore Weather Stations ........................................................ 4-13 Figure 4-4 Monthly Air Temperature from Environment Canada Sites near Placentia Bay ................................................................................................................. 4-15 Figure 4-5 Monthly Air Temperature Statistics