Correlations between sound velocity and related properties of glacio-marine sediments: Barents sea

Statistical analysis of laboratory-measured compressional wave (sound) velocity, porosity, wet bulk density, and selected textural parameters of surface sediments from the Barents Sea reveals that clay content and mean grain size are the best indices to sound velocity. These parameters are followed closely by porosity and wet bulk density, while sand content provides the weakest index. Although Barents Sea surface sediments are characterized by fairly high variability, the results of the present study are in general agreement with studies of similar sediment types in other continental shelf environments.     

Relationships between the sound speed ratio and physical properties of surface sediments in the South Yellow Sea

Building empirical equations is an effective way to link the acoustic and physical properties of sediments. These equations play an important role in the prediction of sediments sound speeds required in underwater acoustics.Although many empirical equations coupling acoustic and physical properties have been developed over the past few decades, further confirmation of their applicability by obtaining large amounts of data, especially for equations based on in situ acoustic measurement techniques, is required. A sediment acoustic survey in the South Yellow Sea from 2009 to 2010 revealed statistical relationships between the in situ sound speed and sediment physical properties. To improve the comparability of these relationships with existing empirical equations, the present study calculated the ratio of the in situ sediment sound speed to the bottom seawater sound speed, and established the relationships between the sound speed ratio and the mean grain size, density and porosity of the sediment. The sound speed of seawater at in situ measurement stations was calculated using a perennially averaged seawater sound speed map by an interpolation method. Moreover, empirical relations between the index of impedance and the sound speed and the physical properties were established. The results confirmed that the existing empirical equations between the in situ sound speed ratio and the density and porosity have general suitability for application. This study also considered that a multiple-parameter equation coupling the sound speed ratio to both the porosity and the mean grain size may be more useful for predicting the sound speed than an equation coupling the sound speed ratio to the mean grain size.     

Sound velocity and related properties of seafloor sediments in the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea

The Bering Sea shelf and Chukchi Sea shelf are believed to hold enormous oil and gas reserves which have attracted a lot of geophysical surveys. For the interpretation of acoustic geophysical survey results, sediment sound velocity is one of the main parameters. On seven sediment cores collected from the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea during the 5th Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition, sound velocity measurements were made at 35, 50, 100, 135, 150, 174, 200, and 250 k Hz using eight separate pairs of ultrasonic transducers. The measured sound velocities range from 1 425.1 m/s to 1 606.4 m/s and are dispersive with the degrees of dispersion from 2.2% to 4.0% over a frequency range of 35–250 k Hz. After the sound velocity measurements, the measurements of selected geotechnical properties and the Scanning Electron Microscopic observation of microstructure were also made on the sediment cores. The results show that the seafloor sediments are composed of silty sand, sandy silt, coarse silt, clayey silt, sand-silt-clay and silty clay. Aggregate and diatom debris is found in the seafloor sediments. Through comparative analysis of microphotographs and geotechnical properties, it is assumed that the large pore spaces between aggregates and the intraparticulate porosity of diatom debris increase the porosity of the seafloor sediments, and affect other geotechnical properties. The correlation analysis of sound velocity and geotechnical properties shows that the correlation of sound velocity with porosity and wet bulk density is extreme significant, while the correlation of sound velocity with clay content, mean grain size and organic content is not significant. The regression equations between porosity, wet bulk density and sound velocity based on best-fit polynomial are given.     

中国黄渤海沉积物声速与物理性质研究

In order to investigate the correlation between a sound velocity and sediment bulk properties and explore the influence of frequency dependence of the sound velocity on the prediction of the sediment properties by the sound velocity,a compressional wave velocity is measured at frequencies of 25–250 k Hz on marine sediment samples collected from the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea in laboratory,together with the geotechnical parameters of sediments.The results indicate that the sound velocity ranges from 1.232 to 1.721 km/s for the collected sediment samples with a significant dispersion within the series measuring frequency.Poorly sorted sediments are highly dispersive nearly with a positive linear relationship.The porosity shows a better negative logarithmic correlation with the sound velocity compared with other geotechnical parameters.Generally,the sound velocity increases with the increasing of the average particle size,sand content,wet and dry bulk densities,and decreasing of the clay content,and water content.An important point should be demonstrated that the higher correlation can be obtained when the measuring frequency is low within the frequency ranges from 25 to 250 k Hz since the inhomogeneity of sediment properties has a more remarkably influence on the laboratory sound velocity measurement at the high frequency.     

Variation of temperature-dependent sound velocity in unconsolidated marine sediments: Laboratory measurements

Laboratory measurements of sound velocity in unconsolidated marine sediment were performed to establish specific correction curves between temperature and sound velocity. Cores from the Hupo Basin and the southern sea of Geumo Island were cooled and sound velocity was measured while gradually increasing temperature (from 3 to 30°C). Sediment textural and physical properties (porosity, water content, and bulk density) were measured at the same depth. Sound velocity increases with temperature for clay, mud, silt, and sand sediment, resulting in values of approximately 2.65, 2.72, 2.78, and 3.10?m/s/°C, respectively. These results are similar to those of previous studies, and differences are likely due to density, porosity, and clay contents of the sediment. Using these results, we present correction curves for sound velocity temperature dependence for each sediment texture, which can be used to correct from laboratory to in situ values to develop accurate geoacoustic model.     

Scale-dependent physical and geoacoustic property variability of shallow-water carbonate sediments from the Dry Tortugas, Florida

 Spatial variability of shallow-water carbonate sediments near Dry Tortugas, Florida, is scale-dependent. Wet bulk density, grain density, porosity, compressional wave velocity, and grain size variability generally increase down to 2.4 m vertically and 850 m laterally. Grain size is most variable, followed by porosity, wet bulk density, compressional wave velocity, and grain density bothvertically and laterally, consistent with Walther’s Law. Variability was empirically modeled by linear regression analysis to predict variability based on scale, characterize sediment property variability, and quantify sedimentisotropy.     

超声无损检测技术在海底沉积物调查中的应用

论文就超声波无损检测技术在海底沉积物声学特性测量上的应用,介绍了其所需的必要设备、样品采集和测量基本原理。探讨了沉积物超声无损测量的资料处理与分析方法及其内容,主要包括声速、声衰减、声阻抗和声速比等声学特性计算;声速与孔隙度、平均粒径和粘土含量等物理力学参数的统计相关性研究。     

含砂量变化影响海底沉积物压缩波速度的分析研究

本文通过对南海海底沉积物样品的声学物理参数和沉积粒度特征统计分析,发现了高、低含砂量沉积物的声学物理特征存在明显差异,建立了海底沉积物的含砂量与压缩波速度、孔隙度、含水量和密度等经验公式,分析了含砂量变化与沉积物的体积压缩模量和密度变化的关系,从声速理论基础上阐明了含砂量变化引起沉积物压缩波速度变化的内在原因是含砂量变化引起了体积压缩模量和密度发生了变化,说明了含砂量增大引起沉积物压缩波速度增大的内在原因是含砂量增大引起了体积压缩模量变化量大于密度变化量,从而在数据统计和理论分析结合基础上,论证了含砂量是影响海底沉积物压缩波速度的重要因素之一。这一研究对声学方法反演海底沉积物粒度参数和沉积物类型、地声参数转换模型的建立,以及对水声反演海底和海底资源勘探等方面都具有重要理论意义和应用价值。     

Sea Floor Sediment and Its Acouso-Physical Properties in the Southeast Open Sea Area of Hainan Island in China

Acouso-physical properties of sea floor sediments in the southeast offshore sea area of Hainan Island on the northern continental shelf of the South China Sea are analyzed. In many cruises, conductivity-temperature-depth measurements of seawater, measurements of shallow stratum and side-scan sonar have been made. Acoustic parameters, basic sedimentary parameters, physical-mechanical parameters and ¹⁴C age, etc., have been measured. The sediment elastic parameters, including Young's modulus, bulk modulus, constrained modulus, rigidity modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lames constant, etc., have been calculated. Results show that the compression wave velocity of the seafloor sediment in the sea area ranges from 1474–1700 m/s, and there are high and low sound velocity sediment types in the different sea areas; the shear wave velocity is 150–600 m/s; at 100 kHz the sediment sound attenuation is 35–260 dB/m, the sediment density is 1.4–2.0 g/cm³; the sediment porosity is 42–88%. Sound field parameters and describing sound reciprocity between sea and seafloor are described.     

Sound speed dispersion characteristics of three types of shallow sediments in the southern yellow sea

To accurately characterize sound speed dispersion of shallow sediments in the Southern Yellow Sea, three types of sediments, i.e., silt, clayey silt, and silty clay, were selected to measure the sound speeds at 25–250?kHz. Over the frequency range, the sound speeds vary approximately from 1,536 to 1,565?m?s^?1 in silt sediment, from 1,511 to 1,527?m?s^?1 in clayey silt sediment, and from 1,456 to 1,466?m?s^?1 in silty clay sediment. The sound speed exhibits a slow increase with frequency in a nearly linear gradient, but these three types of sediments have different sound speed dispersion characteristics. The silt sediment with relatively coarse grains has the most significant sound speed dispersion, while the sound speed dispersions of the two others are relatively weak. Comparison between the measured dispersions and the model predictions shows that the grain-shearing model can match the measured data at most of frequencies. Nevertheless, when the grain bulk modulus was assigned 3.2?×?10¹⁰?Pa according to relevant references, the Biot–Stoll model predictions were higher than the measured values at high frequencies; when it was assigned a relatively small value of 2.8?×?10¹⁰?Pa, the model predictions achieved optimal matching with the measured values.     

Geotechnical property variability of continental margin sediments: High‐resolution vertical and lateral data from the northern California slope

High‐resolution vertical and lateral gradients and variations in sediment mass physical properties were derived from measurements in box cores, on the scale of millimeters, tens of centimeters, and kilometers from typical, relatively broad areas of the northern California continental slope in the Cape Mendocino area at water depths from 380 to 940 m. Such data are important as a control on comparisons of different sediment suites, as well as providing limits for realistic flux calculations of dissolved inorganic and biochemical species and pollutants. The sediments studied have relatively constant organic carbon contents (OC ? 1.75 wt%) and bulk mineralogy. They range from silty sands (～45% sand, 40% silt) to clayey silts (～63% silt, ～35% clay) and are extensively bioturbated. Physical property variations between subcores (～25 to 35 cm in length), taken from the same box core, increase with increasing clay content. For coarse‐grained sediments, mean down‐core differences in physical property values between related subcores are small, averaging 3.6% for water content, 4% for porosity, 0.026 Mg/m³ for wet bulk density, and 0.1 for void ratio. Subcore variations for fine‐grained sediments are generally significantly larger, averaging 9.8% for water content, 1.52% for porosity, 0.027 Mg/m³ for wet bulk density, and 0.3 for void ratio (box core 125). Millimeter variations of physical properties from horizontal 12‐cm‐long subcores indicate a maximum range of lateral variation of 18.2% for water content, 8% for porosity, 0.14 Mg/m³ for wet bulk density, and ～ 0.6 for void ratio.     

基于Chirp数据和Biot-Stoll模型反演南海北部陆坡海底表层沉积物物理性质

浅地层剖面是基于声学信号(频率在几百至几千赫兹)在沉积物中的传播得到可反映沉积地层结构的数据,海底反射系数与沉积物物理性质密切相关。Biot-Stoll声波传播理论模型可以预测海底沉积物的物理性质,构建反射系数等声学参数与物理参数之间的关系,但在不同的海域采用不同的参数所获得的效果不同。为此,本文基于南海北部陆坡海底表层沉积物的实测物理参数,利用BiotStoll模型建立研究区海底反射系数和沉积物物理性质之间的关系,结果表明模型计算值与样品实测值吻合度总体较好,偏差在0.1%～4.9%之间,并建立了频率3.5 kHz时海底反射系数与沉积物孔隙度、密度、平均粒径之间的关系方程,且方程拟合度较高,可决系数R2均大于0.99。在对典型Chirp剖面数据计算其海底反射系数的基础上,反演了海底表层沉积物的孔隙度、密度、颗粒平均粒径等物理性质,其中反演孔隙度、密度、平均粒径与实测孔隙度、密度、平均粒径相对误差均小于5%,结果与实测值基本相符,表明该反演方法在南海北部陆坡区的应用是可行的。     

基于浅地层剖面数据和改进地声模型的底质反演方法

浅地层剖面仪发射的声脉冲能够穿透海底面进入沉积层内部,其回波中携带了丰富的底质信息。地声模型是底质声学与物理性质关系的数学描述,广泛用于海底声学与地声反演研究。本文通过对浅地层剖面数据的处理、解译得到海底反射系数,与考虑底质松密影响的改进Biot-Stoll模型相结合,提出底质反演新方法并开展实例验证。研究结果表明：通过对浅地层剖面原始记录的读取、解译,提取反射波振幅,并结合设备声源级,可有效求取海底反射系数。通过引入相对密度改进孔隙度计算公式,进而在基于Biot-Stoll模型构建海底反射系数和底质平均粒径关系过程中进一步考虑了底质松密的影响。基于山东威海某海域及文献的算例均显示,本文提出的改进地声模型可缩小底质反演与实测结果之间的相对误差、提升基于浅地层剖面数据的海底底质地声反演精度。     

Acoustic density measurements of consolidating cohesive sediment beds by means of a non-intrusive “Micro-Chirp” acoustic system

A non-intrusive “Micro-Chirp” acoustic system and a signal-processing protocol have been developed to estimate the bulk density of consolidating cohesive sediment beds. Using high-frequency (300–700 kHz) Chirp acoustic waves, laboratory measurements were conducted with clay–water mixtures. Because acoustic echo strength is proportional to variations in acoustic impedance, and the speed of sound in the clay bed hardly changed during consolidation, the bulk density could be successfully estimated without disturbing the sediment bed. Based on acoustic signal analysis, this study demonstrates that the reflection coefficient and bulk density at the water–sediment interface increase with consolidation time, and that a single speed of sound value can be used for practical bulk density estimation in muddy environments.     

南海北部大陆架海底沉积物物理性质研究

用物理(声学的、工程地质的、扫描电子显微镜)等技术方法,综合分析了沉积物结构特征和工程力学性质,研究了颗粒接触、堆垒、孔隙等现象与物理性质之间的关系,得出了沉积物声学物理参数和应力一应变性质之间的关系。结果表明,南海北部大陆架海底沉积物有6种结构类型,其中混合接触结构类型的沉积物具有较高的抗压强度和声速,浅层海底存在着高、低声速分层的中尺度结构。     

Assessing the Validity of Seismo-Acoustic Predictor Equations for Obtaining Seabed and Sub-Surface Sediment Physical Properties

The interdependence between the seismo-acoustic properties of a marine sediment and its geotechnical/physical parameters has been known for many years, and it has been postulated that this should allow the extraction of geotechnical information from seismic data. Though in the literature many correlations have been published for the surficial layer, there is a lack of information for greater sediment depths. In this article, a desktop study on a synthetic seafloor model illustrates how the application of published near-surface prediction equations to subsurface sediments (up to several tens of meters burial depth) can lead to spurious predictions. To test this further, acoustic and geotechnical properties were measured on a number of sediment core samples, some of which were subjected to loading in acoustically-equipped consolidation cells (oedometers) to simulate greater burial depth conditions. For low effective pressures (representing small burial depths extending to around 10 meters subsurface), the general applicability of established relationships was confirmed: the prediction of porosity, bulk density, and mean grain size from acoustic velocity and impedance appears generally possible for the investigated sedimentary environments. As effective pressure increases through, the observed relationships deviate more and more from the established ones for the near-surface area. For the samples tested in this study, in some instances increasing pressure even resulted in decreasing velocities. There are several possible explanations for this abnormal behavior, including the presence of gas, overconsolidation, or bimodal grain size distribution. The results indicate that an appropriate depth correction must be introduced into the published prediction equations in order to obtain reliable estimates of physical sediment properties for greater subsurface depths.     

High‐frequency subbottom reflection types and lithologic and physical properties of sediments

Abstract

Eight types of reflections are interpreted from 3,800 km of 3.5 kHz profiles taken over a 25,000 km² area of the upper continental slope and shelf in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico off Panama City, Florida. The corresponding sediments in five of the reflection types were sampled in 77 piston cores from which data were obtained on in situ acoustic velocities (V), bulk densities (gr), sediment texture (mean grain size = Mz), CaCO₃ content (C), sedimentary structures, and gross sediment composition. A distinct bottom echo with numerous subbottom reflectors (Type I) is observed in deeper areas where terrigenous clay or lutite (Mgi = 9.9 to, gr = 1.4 g/cc, porosity (P) = 74 percent, C = 28 percent, and V (upper 2 m) = 1,435 m/s) predominates. Type I reflection grades upslope into Type IV, which shows a distinct bottom echo with fewer subbottom reflectors, and the corresponding sediment is a foraminiferal silty clay (mz = 9.4 to, gr = 1.43 g/cc, P = 73 percent, V = 1,447 m/s, and C = 37 percent). The uppermost slope gives indistinct, semiprolonged bottom echoes with faint subbottoms (Type VI) where calcareous silt (Mz = 6.6 to, gr = 1.57 g/cc, P = 65 percent, C = 70 percent, and V = 1,482 m/s) is the main sediment type. The shelf sediments (gr = 1.66 g/cc, P = 58 percent, V = sl1,530 m/ s), varying from coarse silt (Mz = 5.3 to) to very coarse sand (Mz = ‐0.3 to) and 25 to 100 percent carbonate, show indistinct, semiprolonged bottom echoes with intermittent or mushy subbottoms (Type VII). Prolonged echoes with no subbottoms (Type VIII) are observed in areas where algal sands of variable grain size (Mz ‐ ‐0.9 to 2.7 to, gr = 1.66 g/cc, P = 59 percent, V = 1,530 to 1,690 m/s) occur.

The major trends in reflection types (loss in depth of penetration, loss in number of reflectors, and prolongation of initial bottom reflections) follow gradients of sedimentary and physical properties of the sediments, which are increases in mean grain size, bulk density, in situ acoustic velocity, CaCO₃ content, and decrease in porosity. Increases in the reflection coefficient and attenuation of the sound energy in the shelf sediments are probably important factors in the observed decrease in the depth of penetration of the sound energy in the shelf sediments.     

Assessing the Validity of Seismo-Acoustic Predictor Equations for Obtaining Seabed and Sub-Surface Sediment Physical Properties

The interdependence between the seismo-acoustic properties of a marine sediment and its geotechnical/physical parameters has been known for many years, and it has been postulated that this should allow the extraction of geotechnical information from seismic data. Though in the literature many correlations have been published for the surficial layer, there is a lack of information for greater sediment depths. In this article, a desktop study on a synthetic seafloor model illustrates how the application of published near-surface prediction equations to subsurface sediments (up to several tens of meters burial depth) can lead to spurious predictions. To test this further, acoustic and geotechnical properties were measured on a number of sediment core samples, some of which were subjected to loading in acoustically-equipped consolidation cells (oedometers) to simulate greater burial depth conditions. For low effective pressures (representing small burial depths extending to around 10 meters subsurface), the general applicability of established relationships was confirmed: the prediction of porosity, bulk density, and mean grain size from acoustic velocity and impedance appears generally possible for the investigated sedimentary environments. As effective pressure increases through, the observed relationships deviate more and more from the established ones for the near-surface area. For the samples tested in this study, in some instances increasing pressure even resulted in decreasing velocities. There are several possible explanations for this abnormal behavior, including the presence of gas, overconsolidation, or bimodal grain size distribution. The results indicate that an appropriate depth correction must be introduced into the published prediction equations in order to obtain reliable estimates of physical sediment properties for greater subsurface depths.     

北部湾南部重力柱状样的MSCL地声学性质测量及分析

利用钻孔多参数连续记录仪(multi-sensorcorelogger,MSCL),对在南海北部湾南部海区所取得的6个孔重力柱状样进行了测量,获得了连续P波波速、湿密度和孔隙度数据。在室内实验室对柱状样分样之后的沉积物样品进行了孔隙度与湿密度的测定。利用不同的统计回归方法对所获得的6个柱状样的孔隙度与P波波速进行相关分析,并对比室内测量的P波波速、湿密度、孔隙度,建立了基于孔隙度数据对沉积物P波波速进行预测的方法,对MSCL测量方法的优缺点进行了讨论。结果表明,MSCL测量结果与实验室柱状样测定结果较为吻合。样品所在深度对声速的变化影响不大。孔隙度与声速的多项式回归,样条插值回归和GAM模型回归都获得了较高的相关系数,GAM模型可以提供一个较为接近测量值的声速预测方法。MSCL用来测量海底沉积物,可以获得大量的高密度、高精度的沉积物地声学及其他参数数据,但是,如果空气混入沉积物样品中则会导致MSCL测量结果失真。该研究为使用MSCL在区域海底地声学性质、恢复区域海洋沉积历史、海底地声学模型建立等研究提供了参考。     

Sound velocity in carbonate sediments from the Whiting Basin,Puerto Rico

A series of sediment cores were obtained from the Whiting Basin southeast of Puerto Rico to investigate the factors affecting the velocity of sound in marine carbonate deposits. The cores indicated that the deposits in the Whiting Basin are similar to abyssal-plain deposits with lenticular turbidite sequences alternating with pelagic sediments. The sediment, comprised of highly porous sands and silts, averaged 80% calcium carbonate consisting of aragonite, low-Mg calcite and high-Mg calcite.Normal methods for predicting sound velocity from the physical properties of the deposits were found to be inaccurate for these samples. The established relationships of grain size and porosity to sound velocity were invalid because the sands found in the cores consisted of hollow-foram tests, causing high porosity independent of grain size. The rigidity of the deposit was the most significant factor determining sediment sound velocity and was itself controlled by the sediment source, transportation effects and the packing of the deposit. Future work is needed to accurately measure the effect of these factors on the rigidity modulus.