Seabed characterization through a range of high-resolution acoustic systems - a case study offshore Oman.

Szuman , M., Berndt, Christian , Jacobs, C. and Best, A. (2006) Seabed characterization through a range of high-resolution acoustic systems - a case study offshore Oman. Marine Geophysical Research, 27 (3). pp. 167-180. DOI 10.1007/s11001-005-5999-0.

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Abstract

This study uses three acoustic instruments (different in their operating frequencies, 13, 3.5, and 6–10 kHz, and deployment type, hull-mounted, surface-towed and deep-towed) to investigate and characterize the acoustic response of seafloor NE of Oman in a frequency-independent manner. High-resolution control was achieved by having selected areas of our acoustic transects ground-truthed by sampling and/or sea-floor photography. On the regional scale, the greatest degree of change in backscatter amplitude was correlated with major changes of seabed morphology and lithology. However, small-scale roughness had the biggest effect on amplitude on the local scale, i.e. within each area of specific seafloor type. The study also shows that seafloor reflection amplitude changes are far more easily detected by deep-towed instrument than by surface-towed or hull-mounted systems. Whilst there are significant changes in bioturbation types and density along the transects, the suite of instruments deployed was not able to pick up the effect of the bioturbation on acoustic signals.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: 3.5 kHz sediment profiler, acoustic characterization, backscatter, bioturbation, deep-tow CHIRP, EM12 multibeam, Oman
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: Springer
Date Deposited: 14 Nov 2012 10:47
Last Modified: 22 Jun 2017 12:11
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/19135

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