Seafloor Geomorphology and Processes on the Western Continental Margin of India based on Multibeam Acoustic Backscatter Data Analysis

An assessment of the multibeam sonar data of the central Western Continental Margins of India has been carried out to evaluate the seafloor geomorphology and processes by examining the geomorphological attributes e.g., slope, sediments, structures, etc. associated with geomorphic features. The variation in relief and the features located in the region have been mapped and interpreted collectively by utilizing several geospatial mapping tools. The backscatter strength across the area, apparently congruent with the local relief, has helped to examine the sediment movement on the seafloor. The prominent features found in the region include faults, pockmarks, mounds, submarine terraces, and submerged fossil reefs. Several areas with varying topography engender comparable fractal dimension at short scale breaks, and the probability density functions (PDFs) utilizing backscatter data depicting overlapping classes. The present study highlights how fractals and scale break parameters can be utilized to determine the seafloor processes and associated sedimentological dynamics in a complex geographical environment with strong bottom currents, seasonal upwelling, and faulted structure. The role and impact of the various geomorphic processes on the reworking of sediment movement and the overall progression of the seafloor morphology has been revealed for the first time in this part of the ocean bottom.     

北黄海海底麻坑群形态的定量研究及控制因素

本文基于高分辨率多波束水深数据和反向散射强度数据，对北黄海海底麻坑群的形态参数进行定量研究，结合水深、地形坡度和后向散射强度的变化准确界定了麻坑的轮廓，识别出圆形、椭圆形、拉长型麻坑共282个，并在ArcGIS软件中对其形态参数进行了分析计算，麻坑的平均长轴1.36 km，短轴0.78 km，直径0.94 km，面积0.88 km2，平均周长3.82 km，长宽比1.83，深度0.3~2.5 m，平均面积密集度13%，麻坑的剖面形态有麻坑边缘凹陷、中部有明显凸起（W1型），麻坑边缘凹陷、中部略凸起（W2型），麻坑中部单纯凹陷（V型），分别集中分布在麻坑群的北部、南部、西部。麻坑的平面规模大、深度小的原因与地层中形成麻坑的游离气体浓度较小有关，也可能受到了地震、海啸等外力的诱发。麻坑的长轴优势走向为ENE-WSW、NNE-SSW，底流对其形状的塑造起了较大作用，部分麻坑成串排列，形成串珠状的麻坑链，其排列方式受到海底古河道、古潟湖等沉积地层结构的控制。海底麻坑群发育区反向散射强度为-60~-71 dB，麻坑内部较麻坑外部平均高5 dB，可能为麻坑内部气体泄漏引起海底沉积物被剥蚀后残留下的粗颗粒物质或海底生物活动留下的遗迹导致的。     

用于海底底质分类的多波束声强数据选取研究

高质量的海底声强图是进行多波束海底底质分类、目标识别的基础。要得到"单纯"反映海底底质信息的声强图,就需要对原始声强数据进行地形改正,消除地形因素的影响。在描述了多波束数据中水深数据不能满足声强数据的改正要求问题的基础上,提出了以水深数据覆盖范围为约束的声强数据选取方法。实例计算结果表明:该方法在能有效地选取高质量的声强数据,提高了基于声强图像的海底底质分类精度。     

多波束条带测深仪的动态测量误差评估

对于近年发展起来的多波束条带测深仪,其动态测量误差的评估是一项尚未完善解决的课题。本文提出了一种多波束条带测深仪动态测量误差的评估方法,并用海试结果证明了该方法的实用有效性。该方法可以推广应用到其它多波束测量声呐系统的动态测量误差分析与估计中。     

多波束测深表层声速误差的动态影响及改正方法

表层声速不准确会对多波束测深波束的归位产生影响,对于平面换能器阵,使波束角产生偏差,从而影响波束最终位置,但Snell常数保持不变;对于曲面换能器阵,虽然波束未束控不产生波束角偏差,但Snell常数发生改变,会使波束在传播过程中出现折射误差,对深水环境测量不利。对于表层声速误差带来的水深误差,外部波束比内部波束受到的影响更严重。当表层声速无法实时准确获取时,根据内外部波束对水深的影响大小识别表层声速误差的存在,通过逐步调整表层声速值,计算波束指向角差值,再重新进行声线跟踪,计算改正后的波束位置,消除其带来的水深的影响,完成表层声速误差的改正。文中用实测数据进行了验证,对多波束测深数据质量的改善有一定的参考意义。     

Multibeam Echo Sounders-IMU Automatic Boresight Calibration on Natural Surfaces

ABSTRACT

This paper details a new boresight calibration method for multibeam echo sounder systems This method is based on an automatic data selection algorithm, followed by a boresight least squares adjustment This method, called MIBAC (MultiBeam-IMU Boresight Automatic Calibration), takes in input overlapping survey strips following a simple line pattern over a regular slope. We first construct a boresight error observability criterion, used to select automatically the most sensitive soundings to boresight errors. From these soundings, we perform a 3D adjustment of the boresight angle, thus taking into account the coupling between angles. From a statistical analysis of the adjustment results, we derive the boresight angle precision. Numerical results obtained with four different multibeam echo sounder systems are presented and compared to those of a patch test calibration method. Finally, we demonstrate the performances of MIBAC through a standard deviation along the surface normal approach computed by principal component analysis.     

Granitic coastal geomorphology: applying integrated terrestrial and bathymetric LiDAR with multibeam sonar to examine coastal landscape evolution

Coasts composed of resistant lithologies such as granite are generally highly resistant to erosion. They tend to evolve over multiple sea level cycles with highstands acting to remove subaerially weathered material. This often results in a landscape dominated by plunging cliffs with shore platforms rarely occurring. The long‐term evolution of these landforms means that throughout the Quaternary these coasts have been variably exposed to different sea level elevations which means erosion may have been concentrated at different elevations from today. Investigations of the submarine landscape of granitic coasts have however been hindered by an inability to accurately image the nearshore morphology. Only with the advent of multibeam sonar and aerial laser surveying can topographic data now be seamlessly collected from above and below sea level. This study tests the utility of these techniques and finds that very accurate measurements can be made of the nearshore thereby allowing researchers to study the submarine profile with the same accuracy as the subaerial profile. From a combination of terrestrial and marine LiDAR data with multibeam sonar data, it is found that the morphology of granite domes is virtually unaffected by erosion at sea level. It appears that evolution of these landscapes on the coast is a very slow process with modern sea level acting only to remove subaerially weathered debris. The size and orientation of the joints determines the erosional potential of the granite. Where joints are densely spaced (<2 m apart) or the bedrock is highly weathered can semi‐horizontal surfaces form. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

离散点数据自动绘制等深线方法探究

提出用反距离插值法将多波束离散数据点插值成规则格网DEM数据,再根据海图生产规范自动绘制不等间距相对光滑的DEM。将自动绘制的等深线与一般软件生成的等深线、海底地形图成果等深线进行比较分析得出：文中方法绘制的等深线相比以前有较大改善且更符合地形,可作为人工绘制的参考线。     

一体化姿态传感器支持下多波束测深系统偏差处理

根据一体化姿态传感器的特点和多波束水深点计算的实际需要,重点讨论了多波束探头安装偏差的处理,提出了把综合偏差输入姿态传感器,利用其偏差校准处理功能,实现多波束探头坐标系的横摇、纵摇和航向的直接输出,简化数据处理提高作业效率的设想;给出了姿态传感器安装偏差与多波束探头安装偏差进行合并获得综合偏差的方法。     

南海中西部地貌单元划分及其特征和成因分析

南海中西部处于南海北部和南部的过渡带,夹持于印支地块和南海海底扩张中心之间,其特殊的地貌对于研究整个南海地质地貌有重要意义。本文基于广州海洋地质调查局在南海中西部海洋地质调查项目获取的水深、底质调查及地震剖面数据,结合该海域以往研究成果,提取了有关地貌的信息,编制了南海中西部地貌图。把研究区划分出陆架、陆坡和深海盆地三个二级地貌单元,以及水下岸坡、水下浅滩、海岭、峡谷、麻坑、阶地、盆地、海台、海山、深海扇、深海平原等众多次级地貌单元。文章详细描述了该海域各地貌单元的特征,提出了断层、火山、构造隆起和浊流等地质作用是本区地貌形成的主要因素。