海底沉积物声速-压力特性测试系统的设计与实验

文中设计基于可编程逻辑控制器(PLC)的测控平台、伺服加压控制、步进推动控制、多传感器测量、触摸屏交互等功能的温压可控声学测量系统,实现海底沉积物样品的孔隙水自动可控加压,通过声学测量功能单元测量海底沉积物在各个压力下的声速,模拟海底沉积物处于大陆坡2 000 m以浅海底表层任何深度变化时的声学特性测量,得到海底沉积物声速-压力特性,为校正实验室测量数据还原到海底原位测量数据提供一种方法。     

In situ velocity profiles in gassy sediments: Kiel Bay

Acoustic behavior of gas-bearing sediments is significantly different from that of gas-free sediments. In situ velocity profiles and acoustic signal characteristics in gas-bearing sediments of the upper several meters of the sea floor in Kiel Bay are presented in this study. Observed velocities in gas-bearing sediments are both higher and lower than those of the gas-free sediments. Small amounts of gas appear to cause signal reverberation without much attenuation. whereas large amounts of gas cause substantial attenuation.     

Fe−Mn nodule field indicated by GLORIA,north of the Puerto Rico Trench

A 2,500-km² area of sea floor on the south-eastern flank of the Greater Antilles Outer Ridge north of the Puerto Rico Trench displays anomalously high acoustic backscattering properties on GLORIA longrange sidescan-sonar data. Previously collected dredges, bottom photographs, and sediment cores indicate the presence of Fe–Mn nodules within the area of high backscatter. We were able to map the extent of the inferred nodule field on the basis of acoustic property contrast between the nodule-covered sediment and the surrounding nodule-free sediment.     

A long‐range and high‐resolution underwater acoustic positioning system

Abstract

It is desired to track the location of an underwater data collecting platform using acoustic range data. A long‐range and high‐resolution acoustic system for underwater locating has been investigated. The system provides continuous and highly accurate tracking of a platform referenced to bottom‐mounted buoys. Each reference buoy contains an acoustic transponder, which is used to obtain ranging data from the transponder to the platform. The transponder has a signal source that is phase‐modulated by a maximal‐length binary sequence and a correlation processing unit to be capable of detecting received acoustic signals with high SNR in a noisy environment or in attenuation due to long‐range propagation, and to identify multipath acoustic signals. The acoustic system has been designed and sea tests tried. The results of that experiment have yielded capability of a submeter underwater acoustic positioning system.     

Acoustic backscatter and sediment textural properties of inner shelf sands,northeastern Gulf of Mexico

The relationship between spatial variations of the properties of sea-floor sediments and acoustic backscatter from the surface of the sea floor on the continental shelf off of Panama City, Florida, USA, is investigated using surficial sediment grab samples and digital side-scan sonar data. Acoustic backscatter strength has a high, direct correlation with the mean grain size of the sediments. Acoustic backscatter strength also correlates directly with the carbonate content of the sediments, particularly in medium-and coarse-sand facies, because large, irregularly shaped, carbonate particles affect both the mean grain size of the sediments and the roughness of the surface of the sea floor.     

胜利埕岛海域海底松软沉积物声学探测方法探讨

胜利埕岛海域位于复杂的黄河三角洲沉积体系中．由于黄河的断流,在风浪和海流作用下原三角洲体系受到侵蚀．在部分海底具有松散沉积物沉积。采用侧扫声纳、双频测深仪及浅地层剖面仪3种海上物探方法,对埕岛海域海底松软沉积物进行声学探测,确定了浮泥、软土层顶、海底界面及浮泥和软土层和海底界面及浮泥和软土层的厚度,研究了埕岛海域海底松软沉积物的基本分布变化规律,为今后海洋工程地质勘察海底松软沉积物奠定了基础。     

Warped temperature profiles observed in the sediment of geothermally active areas in the Japan Sea— A hypothesis of double diffusive sinking

Some temperature profiles observed in sea floor sediments of the Japan Sea, west of the northern part of Honshu, show distinct gradients changing with depth, for which we use the term warping. Using a simplified model, this warping can be attributed to an abrupt temperature change in the bottom water just above the sediment. The bottom water temperature change might be explained by the hypothesis that warm and salt surface water in the region sank to the sea bottom, through colder and less saline water, maintaining a relatively warmer temperature than the bottom water which originates from ordinary lateral intrusion.     

Low-frequency bottom loss

The shallow refracted path through sea floor sediments plays a significant role in the transmission of acoustic energy at low frequencies. For bottom grazing angles of 90/spl deg/ to 25/spl deg/, low-frequency acoustic energy was observed to come from reflected paths. For bottom grazing angles of 25/spl deg/ to 10/spl deg/ the dominant source of low-frequency acoustic energy is from shallow refracted paths through the sediments. At angles less than 10/spl deg/, low-frequency acoustic energy is received from both the refracted and the reflected paths. The refracted path is possible because of the positive gradient within the sediment. The sudden emergence of the refracted arrival is related to the overall sound path length in the sediment and sediment absorption of sound. Since sediment absorption is directly proportional to frequency, only low-frequency energy is transmitted via this path. The refracted path may well exist where unconsolidated sediments of at least a few hundred feet are present.     

Characterization of shallow ocean sediments using the airborne electromagnetic method

Experimental airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey data collected in Cape Cod Bay are used to derive continuous profiles of water depth, electrical depth, water conductivity, and bottom sediment conductivity. Through a few well-known empirical relationships, the conductivities are used, in turn, to derive density, porosity, sound speed, and acoustic reflectivity of the ocean bottom. A commercially available Dighem III AEM system was used for the survey without any significant modification. The helicopter-borne system operated at 385 and 7200 Hz; both were in a horizontal coplanar configuration. The interpreted profiles show good agreement with available ground truth data. Where no such data are available, the results appear to be very reasonable. Compared with the shipborne electrode array method, the AEM method can determine the necessary parameters at a much higher speed with a better lateral resolution over a wide range of water depths from 0 to perhaps 100 m. The bottom sediment conductivity that can be measured by the AEM method is closely related to physical properties of sediments, such as porosity, density, sound speed, and, indirectly, sediment types that might carry broad implications for various offshore activities.     

海底沉积物声学特征定量分析及其智能分类研究

海底底质特性描述及分类是当今浅海声学的研究热点,海底沉积物的物理结构特性与其声学响应特征密切相关。在分析海底沉积物声传播特性的基础上,应用现代计算机信号分析技术手段,对海底沉积物声学响应波形提取了4个特征参数:声速、波幅指数、波形关联维分形指数和声波频谱的频率矩。以这4个特征参数作为输入向量,海底沉积物的结构类型作为输出向量,建立径向基概率神经网络模型。研究表明建立的神经网络模型具有较强的海底沉积物分类预报能力。     

Porosity determinations of sediments in Knight Inlet using a transient electromagnetic system

A newly developed towed transient electromagnetic (TEM) system is capable of measuring the electrical conductivity of the uppermost 5–10 m of sediments on the sea floor. The profiles of conductivity may be interpreted to give the porosity and likely texture of the bottom sediments. Recent tests of the system have demonstrated that data may be collected continuously in a surveying mode. Results from Knight Inlet, British Columbia, are in good agreement with sea floor samples from the area. Applications for the system include the rapid identification of sediment types for dredging operations, geotechnical surveys, or reconnaissance mapping of Quaternary geology.     

南黄海海水中悬浮体跃层及底部浑水层

南黄海海水中悬浮体含量垂向分布中常见有跃层现象,它们是在海浪和潮流综合作用下,由海底表层沉积物的再悬浮产生的。南黄海冷水团促进了浑水层和悬浮体跃层的发育。 浑水层能够改变光、声波在海水中传播的性质,增大海水的浮力,增强对海底的侵蚀力。     

Spatial and temporal pulse design considerations for a marinesediment classification sonar

A linear FM sonar system was developed to support the objective of remote acoustic classification of seafloor sediments. It is a calibrated, wideband, digital, frequency modulated sonar that provides quantitative, high-resolution, low-noise sub-bottom data. Since the linear sonar system can precisely transmit a specified waveform, the calibrated digitally recorded reflection data can be processed to estimate the acoustic impulse response of the seabed and sediment attenuation. An acoustic pulse with special frequency domain weighting characteristics is designed to provide low temporal sidelobe levels and a nearly constant resolution with depth even after passing through a sediment with high losses such as sand. After correlation processing, the wideband acoustic pulse yields an effective beam pattern with high spatial resolution and insignificant sidelobe levels. Data sets generated with the FM profiler indicate that the required temporal and spatial characteristics of the sonar are realized in practice     

小尺度海底沉积物的声衰减特性研究

为研究小尺度海底沉积物样品的声衰减特性,作者提出了用声学探针测量海底沉积物声波幅值的新方法,对沉积物样品扰动小,两个测量点的距离可小于波长,为海底沉积物微观声衰减测量提供了新手段。作者用小于波长的间隔逐点测量了沉积物的压缩波幅值,数据分析表明沿沉积物柱状样全长的声衰减满足指数衰减模型。目前主要用同轴差距衰减测量法获得海底沉积物声衰减数据,但该方法不能辨识声衰减模型,因此不同海区的测量结果难以建立联系。对此作者又提出用声吸收系数反演的幅值比与声衰减系数反演的R值(两种幅值比的比值)作评价依据,分析了垂直轴差距衰减测量法获得的南海海底沉积物声衰减测量数据,发现部分沉积物样品声衰减的R值远大于1,其声衰减不满足指数衰减模型。在声衰减满足指数衰减模型的条件下,用Hamilton的声衰减和频率经验公式预报的南海沉积物声衰减比与作者用声学探针测量海底沉积物所得的声衰减比对比,通过对R值分析得出Hamilton的声衰减和频率经验公式可以预报南海沉积物声衰减比的范围。作者提出的声学探针测量海底沉积物声衰减的方法的优点是既能获得声衰减数据又能辨识声衰减模型,不同海区测量的沉积物声衰减比可用R值建立联系。     

基于声波探测海底浅层沉积物特性的方法研究

利用声波在水中的传输特性进行海底浅层沉积物特性的探测。在实践应用中有实验室方法、现场测量方法和海底声学遥测方法,并研制出大量的仪器。由于海上和海底实际条件的限制,声波探测方法都存在一定的不足之处,由此提出了声衰减测试沉积物特性以及建立实验室模拟海底环境探测方法的设想。     

应力-应变过程中海底沉积物微结构变化对其声速的影响

阐述了对海底沉积物样品在应力-应变过程中进行同步声学测量的实验工具及方法,分析了采自南海45个站位的海底沉积物样品的实验数据资料,结果表明,沉积物颗粒越粗、孔隙越小、无侧限抗压强度越大,声速越高.沉积物样品在受力应变过程中,声速具有明显的随应力而变化的特征.进一步探讨了不同应变阶段沉积物的声学特征以及应力所导致沉积物微结构变化对其声速的影响过程,这一研究将在石油地质测井和海底工程基底稳定性评价等方面具有重要应用意义.     

海底底质声学原位测量电路控制系统研究

介绍了一种液压驱动贯入式海底沉积声学原位测量系统的电路控制单元的研究实现过程,以及该控制单元在南海北部海底沉积声学调查中的应用。该电路控制单元以Cortex-A8处理器为核心,集成大容量FLASH存储器,与单片机接口控制板进行串口通讯,实现对声学发射采集单元和机械液压贯入单元的可视化控制和监测。基于该电路控制单元,海底底质声学原位测量系统兼具自容式和在线式两种工作模式,可自容记录或实时采集声学原位测量单元在海底的工作状态数据、海底沉积物声速和声衰减系数等声学特性数据。该声学原位测量系统的实验室联调及南海海试结果表明,使用该电路控制单元对海底底质声学测量过程的监测与控制是有效的,对精确获取海底底质的原位声学特性有重要作用,可以促进海底底质声学原位测量系统的产品化。     

Seismic Characterisation of Gas-rich Near Surface Sediments in the Arkona Basin, Baltic Sea

Gas in sediments has become an important subject of research for various reasons. It affects large areas of the sea floor where it is mainly produced. Gas and gas migration have a strong impact on the environmental situation as well as on sea floor stability. Furthermore, large research programs on gas hydrates have been initiated during the last 10 years in order to investigate their potential for future energy production and their climatic impact. These activities require the improvement of geophysical methods for reservoir investigations especially with respect to their physical properties and internal structures. Basic relationships between the physical properties and seismic parameters can be investigated in shallow marine areas as they are more easily accessible than hydrocarbon reservoirs. High-resolution seismic profiles from the Arkona Basin (SW Baltic Sea) show distinct ‘acoustic turbidity’ zones which indicate the presence of free gas in the near surface sediments. Total gas concentrations were determined from cores taken in the study area with mean concentrations of 46.5 ml/l wet sediment in non-acoustic turbidity zones and up to 106.1 ml/l in the basin centre with acoustic turbidity. The expression of gas bubbles on reflection seismic profiles has been investigated in two distinct frequency ranges using a boomer (600–2600 Hz) and an echosounder (38 kHz). A comparison of data from both seismic sources showed strong differences in displaying reflectors. Different compressional wave velocities were observed in acoustic turbidity zones between boomer and echosounder profiles. Furthermore, acoustic turbidity zones were differently characterised with respect to scattering and attenuation of seismic waves. This leads to the conclusion that seismic parameters become strongly frequency dependent due to the dynamic properties of gas bubbles.     

南海浅海海底沉积物的声衰减

报道了南海浅海海底沉积物的声衰减性质。给出了测量和计算海底沉积物声衰减的方法。分析讨论了不同频率下的声衰减以及与若干个海底沉积物物理参数的关系,结果表明,同一类型沉积物在高频段时的声衰减要比低频段的声衰减大;同一频段下粗颗粒沉积物的声衰减要比细颗粒的声衰减大;北部湾海底浅层沉积物声衰减在低频100kHz下为80~150dB/m,在高频1MHz下为150~360dB/m;海南岛南部外海海底浅层沉积物声衰减在低频下为66~160dB/m,在高频1MHz下为190~350dB/m;高频段的数据与台湾海峡北部海底表层沉积物声衰减测量分析数据比较接近,而低频段的数据与台湾海峡北部海底表层沉积物声衰减测量分析数据有较大的差别。     

The Bremen ocean bottom tiltmeter (OBT) – a technical article on a new instrument to monitor deep sea floor deformation and seismicity level

The Bremen ocean bottom tiltmeter is a new 6000 m-depth deep sea instrument for autonomous observation of sea floor tilt with signal periods longer than 7.5 s. The instrument also records vertical acceleration in the frequency range from DC to 1 Hz. The tiltmeter has an Applied Geomechanics Inc. 756 wide angle biaxial bubble tilt sensor with a resolution of 1.0μ rad (0.2 arc second). A Kistler Corp. MEMS accelerometer of type Servo K-Beam 8330A2.5 with about 10⁻⁵m/s² resolution is used for the acceleration measurements. An Oceanographic Embedded Systems AD24 24 bit Sigma-Delta converter, which is controlled by a low-power Persistor Inc. embedded computer system of type CF 2, samples the data. The duration of tiltmeter operation is more than one year, which is controlled by the battery life. In our design the tiltmeter does not need active leveling devices, i.e., servo motors or other moving components to adjust sensors or frame. We designed the instrument for deployments by means of a remote operated vehicle. Since May 2005 the Bremen ocean bottom tiltmeter has recorded sea floor deformation and seismicity level in the Logatchev hydrothermal vent field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The tiltmeter is a part of the monitoring system of project ‘Logatchev Long-Term Environmental Monitoring,’ called LOLEM, of the German research program with the name ‘Schwerpunktprogramm 1144: Vom Mantel zum Ozean.’