Seafloor acoustic remote sensing with multibeam echo-sounders and bathymetric sidescan sonar systems

This paper examines the potential for remote classification of seafloor terrains using a combination of quantitative acoustic backscatter measurements and high resolution bathymetry derived from two classes of sonar systems currently used by the marine research community: multibeam echo-sounders and bathymetric sidescans sonar systems. The high-resolution bathymetry is important, not only to determine the topography of the area surveyed, but to provide accurate bottom slope corrections needed to convert the arrival angles of the seafloor echoes received by the sonars into true angles of incidence. An angular dependence of seafloor acoustic backscatter can then be derived for each region surveyed, making it possible to construct maps of acoustic backscattering strength in geographic coordinates over the areas of interest. Such maps, when combined with the high-resolution bathymetric maps normally compiled from the data output by the above sonar systems, could be very effective tools to quantify bottom types on a regional basis, and to develop automatic seafloor classification routines.     

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。     

南黄海砂质海底反向声散射测量（6-24 kHz）

在南黄海某一典型的砂质海底区域,采用全向性声源和全向性接收水听器开展了频率范围为6-24 kHz的海底反向声散射测量。测量结果表明,在避免海面散射干扰并满足远场条件的情况下,本次实验获得了掠射角范围为18~80°的海底反向声散射强度,其数值为-41.1~24.4 dB。在有效掠射角范围内,声散射强度总体上随掠射角的增大呈现出增大趋势,但对于不同的频率,其变化趋势有所不同,反映出不同的散射机理。在20°、40°和60°掠射角处,在6-24 kHz的频率范围内反向声散射强度总体上呈现出正相关的频率依赖性,其线性相关斜率分别为0.2229 dB/kHz、0.5130 dB/kHz、0.1746 dB/kHz。在最大掠射角80°处,反向声散射强度未呈现出明显的频率相关性。     

Estimation of bottom scattering strength from measured and modeledmid-frequency sonar reverberation levels

Hamilton-type geoacoustic models were developed for Area Foxtrot, a shallow water test bed south of Long Island, for emerging active sonar systems where the surface sediment type is highly spatially variable. Reverberation levels (RL) were modeled using the finite-element parabolic equation (FEPE) propagation model to augment the generic sonar model (GSM) propagation model because the bottom loss model in GSM did not estimate transmission loss (TL) accurately in shallow water. FEPE estimates reveal that there is a greater than 15 dB difference between TL for sand and that for silt-day sediments in Area Foxtrot. The comparison between modeled RL and measured RL (from a 1991 active sonar exercise) enabled bottom scattering strength kernels to be developed for Area Foxtrot. Bottom scattering strength was found to be a function of sediment type. Hard sand sediment has a bottom scattering strength which obeys Lambert's law (sin² &thetas;) while that of silt-clay sediment is consistent with sub-bottom volume scattering (sine). The RLs in Area Foxtrot are azimuth-dependent and are a function of TL and bottom scattering strength (and hence bottom sediment type). Sonar beams steered towards the hard sand show higher RLs than for silt-clay, and knowledge of the sediment type and its spatial variation must be known to model RL accurately. A method to determine sediment type using measured RLs and RL slopes is given     

Development of a high target strength passive acoustic reflectorfor low-frequency sonar applications

The objective of this study was development of broadband, high target strength, passive acoustic reflectors. These reflectors would provide convenient, low-cost targets for low-frequency sonar trials and fleet exercises. The primary development goals included controlled, stable monostatic and bistatic reflectivity, and adjustable deployment depth down to 90 m (300 ft). The development process used both computer models and scaled physical models to find the most effective configuration capable of meeting the project goals. Review of acoustic scattering theory showed that acoustically soft reflectors (bubbly liquids or air-filled spheres and cylinders) provide higher target strength values than similarly sized hard reflectors (metal spheres or corner reflectors). Air-filled cylinders were found to provide the highest target strength values and widest useful bandwidth for a given reflector volume. This is a result of the tube resonance that occurs at ka=0.02 at the depth range of interest where k is the acoustic wavenumber and a is the tube radius. Air-filled cylinder target strength at resonance is about equal to its target strength at ka=1.0 with a deviation less than ±4 dB between these values. Guided by these study results, a prototype reflector was assembled using a 16-m length of air-filled gum rubber tubing, 5.7 cm in diameter (3.2-cm ID). A SCUBA regulator attached to a small air tank maintained tubing inflation. Test results at a depth of 90 m showed an effective target strength of 12 dB at 250 Hz with a deviation less than ±2 dB from 200 to 400 Hz. This is equivalent to the target strength of a 16-m-diameter perfectly reflecting sphere-an object with a volume about 52000 times that of the prototype cylinder reflector     

Tests of models for high-frequency seafloor backscatter

The interaction of high-frequency sound with the seafloor is inherently a stochastic process. Inversion techniques must, therefore employ good stochastic models for bottom acoustic scattering. An assortment of physical models for bottom backscattering strength is tested by comparison with scattering strength data obtained at 40 kHz at three shallow water sites spanning a range of sediment types from fine silt to coarse sand. These acoustic data are accompanied by sediment physical property data obtained by core sample analysis and in situ probes. In addition, stereo photography was used to measure the power spectrum of bottom relief on centimeter scales. These physical data provided the inputs needed to test the backscatter models, which treat scattering from both the rough sediment-water interface and the sediment volume. For the three sites considered here, the perturbation model for scattering from a slightly rough fluid seafloor performs well. Volume scattering is predicted to be weak except at a site having a layer of methane bubbles     

A Multivariate Correlation Analysis of High- Frequency Bottom Backscattering Strength Measurements With Geotechnical Parameters

Sound backscattered from the seabed has been measured in a 10x10-nmi² region of the North Sea, characterized by a variety of bottom types, including mud, sand, and gravel. The backscattering strength measurements are made by a forward-looking sonar, operating at 100 kHz and tilted at an angle of 30deg from the horizontal. Fifty bottom-grab samples, representative of the uppermost 20 cm, were taken and analyzed for gravel content, shell content, and grain-size distribution. The backscatter measurements are correlated with the gravel percentage, shell percentage, and median grain size. A strong positive correlation of the measured backscatter strength with shell and gravel percentage is observed. Additionally, a small positive correlation between the backscatter strength and the median grain size of the sand and mud part exists. The derived values for the backscatter strength compare well to those presented in the recent literature. From a least squares curve-fitting analysis, an empirical expression is obtained giving backscatter strength as a function of gravel percentage, shell percentage, and the median grain size of the sand and mud part.     

Vertical Migration of Sound Scatterers in the Southern Yellow Sea in Summer

Acoustic volume backscattering strength data were collected and Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) measur e m e n t s were conducted in the southern Yellow Sea in summer 2005 and 2006. The high temporal and vertical resolution acoustic data measured with a 307 kHz Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) and a 250 kHz acoustic Doppler profile (ADP) had dominant diel variation, which resulted from vertical migration of sound scatterers. Some scatterers congregating in the bottom layer in the daytime migrated upward at dusk, and migrated downward into the bottom layer at dawn. The migration speeds were estimated. More than 33 days data show that the diel migration varies with time. The feature of migration measured with ADCP and ADP is consistent to some extent with what is described in the study on vertical migration of zooplankton in the southern Yellow Sea with conventional net samples.     

声学与海洋沉积学交叉领域的研究

声学与海洋沉积学交叉领域研究可分为“沉积层声学特性的研究”、“海底高频声散射或低频声反射与底质类型之间关系的研究”、“回声参数反演海底类型技术”和“海底回声图象识别海底沉积类型技术”4个方面的研究,较详细论述了4个方面的国内外研究现状,最后提出了该领域进一步研究的战略思路。     

Detection of objects on the sea bottom using backscatteringcharacteristics dependent on the observation point

Sector-scanning sonar systems image the sea bottom to detect objects that can be distinguished from the background structure of the sea bottom. In current systems, images are displayed and discarded as new image data become available, In this paper, a method for improving sonar detection by utilizing all images in a sequence is investigated. The proposed method requires that sonar data are acquired with a sector-scanning sonar in a side-looking configuration. It is demonstrated that these data can be used to detect observation-point-dependent changes in sea-bottom backscattering characteristics. These changes provide additional cues for discrimination that can improve the detection of objects on the sea bottom. Results of applying the method to experimental data are presented     

A statistical study of acoustic signals backscattered from the seabottom

Backscattering measurements were performed in shallow water on sand, gravel, and clay bottoms. The equipment included a parametric array that emitted pulses of differential frequencies (8 to 40 kHz) with a 3° directivity. The ranges did not exceed 50 m. The grazing angles varied from 4° to 90°. The bottom backscattering strength does not depend on the emitted pulse type (frequency and length). If one fits a Lambert law to the variations of the backscattering strength versus the grazing angle, the value at the origin fluctuates between-15 and-22 dB without any clear effect from the different bottom types. Statistical tests show that under the experimental measurement conditions: (1) the alternative received signal does not generally follow a normal distribution; (2) among five classical distributions in sonar and radar that have been fitted to the detected-integrated signal (exponential, Weibull, chi-2, log-normal, Rice), the best-fitted law is the log-normal; (3) signals backscattered by separated areas of the same bottom can hardly be regarded as stationary and, even less, homogeneous; and (4) with an anisotropic bottom topography the statistical properties depend on the aspect under which this topography is seen     

海底沉积物纵波速度与强度参数关系模型研究

海底沉积物具有质地松软、强度低的特点,其强度参数与海上平台插桩就位、导管架的安装等工程关系紧密,与海上作业安全息息相关。常规钻孔取芯与静力触探等强度参数获取方法成本较高、取样点少,且对沉积物扰动较大,利用易获取的声学资料预测海底沉积物的强度参数具有重要研究意义。本文基于Wood方程、Biot-Stoll模型、Dvorkin等效介质模型等声波传播理论,计算不同物性参数（密度、孔隙度）梯度下的理论纵波速度,结合室内模拟地层声学实验,对比了模型计算声速与实测声速的变化特征,建立了声速与物性参数关系模型。基于室内模拟地层土力学试验,揭示了沉积物物性与抗剪强度、黏聚力等参数之间的关系,建立了物性与强度参数关系模型。以物性参数为桥梁,建立基于声学特征的海底沉积物强度参数预测模型。此模型既避免了原位取样沉积物失水扰动的问题,又弥补了经验公式局限性的缺点,具有普适性与准确性,有效提高无法取样地区沉积物强度参数的精度,提高了经济效益,对浅层的勘探与开发起到了理论指导的作用。     

Analysis of seafloor backscatter strength dependence on the survey azimuth using multibeam echosounder data

The sediment backscatter strength measured by multibeam echosounders is a key feature for seafloor mapping either qualitative (image mosaics) or quantitative (extraction of classifying features). An important phenomenon, often underestimated, is the dependence of the backscatter level on the azimuth angle imposed by the survey line directions: strong level differences at varying azimuth can be observed in case of organized roughness of the seabed, usually caused by tide currents over sandy sediments. This paper presents a number of experimental results obtained from shallow-water cruises using a 300-kHz multibeam echosounder and specially dedicated to the study of this azimuthal effect, with a specific configuration of the survey strategy involving a systematic coverage of reference areas following “compass rose” patterns. The results show for some areas a very strong dependence of the backscatter level, up to about 10-dB differences at intermediate oblique angles, although the presence of these ripples cannot be observed directly—neither from the bathymetry data nor from the sonar image, due to the insufficient resolution capability of the sonar. An elementary modeling of backscattering from rippled interfaces explains and comforts these observations. The consequences of this backscatter dependence upon survey azimuth on the current strategies of backscatter data acquisition and exploitation are discussed.     

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.     

Effect of various surface-height-distribution properties on acoustic backscattering statistics

A problem of interest to underwater acousticians is understanding the relationship between ocean-bottom characteristics and acoustic backscattering statistics. This experimental work focused on examining surface roughness characteristics that cause backscattering strength statistics to deviate from the Rayleigh distribution. Several different scattering surfaces with known height distributions were designed for this study. The surfaces were modeled using a technique that allowed for different height-distribution functions and correlation lengths to be prescribed. Isotropic and anisotropic surfaces were fabricated having both Gaussian and non-Gaussian surface-height distributions. Many independent backscattering measurements were made for different aspects of each surface using a computer-controlled transducer-positioning system. Acoustic backscattering statistics were non-Rayleigh for the anisotropic surfaces when combining measurements from different aspects. Mean scattering strength was found to be dependent on both the surface-height distribution and correlation length. In addition, backscattering strength showed a dependence on the surface-height power distribution.     

ACOUSTIC SCATTERING MEASUREMENT OF FISH

The method of acoustic backscattering measurement from different parts of fish using the focus array of transducer developed recently is described in this paper. The results of the measurements of several kinds of flsh are given in this paper, indicating that the backscattering from fish is closely relative to the anatomy of fish. Its application in forming backscattering model of fish and that in using this model to obtain the information of fish kinds by the echoes from fish sonar are discussed.     

Sea-surface acoustic backscattering measurement at 6–25 kHz in the Yellow Sea

Sea-surface acoustic backscattering measurements at moderate to high frequencies were performed in the shallow water of the south Yellow Sea, using omnidirectional spherical sources and omnidirectional hydrophones. Sea-surface backscattering data for frequencies in the 6–25 k Hz range and wind speeds of(3.0±0.5)and(4.5±1.0) m/s were obtained from two adjacent experimental sites, respectively. Computation of sea-surface backscattering strength using bistatic transducer is described. Finally, we calculated sea-surface backscattering strengths at grazing angles in the range of 16°–85°. We find that the measured backscattering strengths agree reasonably well with those predicted by using second order small-roughness perturbation approximation method with "PM" roughness spectrum for all frequencies at grazing angles ranged from 40° to 80°. The backscattering strengths varied slightly at grazing angles of 16°–40°, and were much stronger than roughness scattering. It is speculated that scattering from bubbles dominates the backscattering strengths at high wind speeds and small grazing angles. At the same frequencies and moderate to high grazing angles, the results show that the backscattering strengths at a wind speed of(4.5±1.0) m/s were approximately 5 d B higher than those at a wind speed of(3.0±0.5) m/s. However, the discrepancies of backscattering strength at low grazing angles were more than 10 d B. Furthermore the backscattering strengths exhibited no significant frequency dependence at 3 m/s wind speed. At a wind speed of 4.5 m/s, the scattering strengths increased at low grazing angles but decreased at high grazing angles with increasing grazing angle.     

Backscattering from bioturbated sediments at very high frequency

Recent backscattering measurements made in the Gulf of La Spezia, Italy, using a sonar operating at 140 kHz combined with thorough characterization of seabed interface and volume properties illustrate the importance of seabed volume scattering. Three-dimensional fluctuation statistics of density variability and vertical density gradients, both of which are attributed to the level of bioturbation (e.g., sea shell fragments, burrows, pockets of water) have been quantified using X-Ray computed tomography. Two-dimensional interface roughness spectra have also been determined using a digital stereo photogrammetry system. The combined ground truth has allowed a backscattering model to be fully constrained. Measured backscattering strength versus angle is compared to a model that includes the effects of varying density and sound speed. Data-model comparisons show that scattering from the volume of strongly inhomogeneous sediments can often be a primary contributor to seafloor scattering away from normal incidence.     

Analysis of simrad EM12 multibeam bathymetry and acoustic backscatter data for seafloor mapping,exemplified at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 45° N

The EM12 multibeam echosounder can record acoustic backscatter information as well as high resolution bathymetry. The dataset presented, from the axis of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 45° N, was the first EM12 survey of a mid-ocean ridge. This paper presents methods for utilising the backscatter information. Data processing enables the production of a mosaic of acoustic backscatter, and visualisation techniques are investigated to provide initial qualitative views of the combined backscatter and bathymetry datasets. The co-registration of the backscatter and bathymetry data enables quantitative analysis of their relationships. Various sites of different geological type have been selected and their angular acoustic backscattering relationships estimated, including the effect on backscatter of incidence angle, its regional variability with bottom type and the influence of bottom slope. Incidence angles and bottom type are shown to affect backscatter to a similar degree, while slopes appear to contribute little. The geometry of hull-mounted systems, such as the EM12, is significantly different from that of conventional sidescan sonars, such as GLORIA, and the backscatter images from the two types differ in various respects. Because of the wide variations in incidence angle that are common with hull-mounted systems, and the importance of incidence angle in determining backscatter strength, it is vital to consider the effect of incidence angle during interpretation.     

A programmable microcomputer-based sonar echo processor for real-time processing

A programmable microcomputer-based sonar echo processor has been developed and field tested to process echo data in real time. The device was designed for use in fisheries acoustics and to analyze echoes from the sea floor. The instrument simultaneously performs the functions "echo integration" and "echo peak detection' on the sonar signal. The "echo integration" circuitry measures the relative acoustic energy of the echo while the "echo peak detection' electronics measure the probability density function (PDF) of the peak of the echo envelope. Each process is gated so the echoes may be processed in many short time intervals. In fisheries applications, estimates can be made of fish density (fish per unit volume), average backscattering cross section, and a combination of fish size and behavior. When using the device to analyze bottom echoes, it is possible to measure both the returned energy from the bottom sediment interfaces and the microrelief characteristics. The durability, flexibility, computer link, and floppy-disk data-storage features of the system are discussed. Data are presented of the processed echoes from biological organisms and the ocean bottom from a recent research cruise on the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Hatteras, NC. The biological results illustrated the organisms to be clearly divided into two separate spatial distributions-an observation not obvious from a standard echogram which was simultaneously used. The results from the bottom showed both 1) the difference in sub-bottom structure between two locations and 2) changes in microrelief of the water-bottom interface between another pair of locations.