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。     

磁阻传感器在海流计流向测量中的应用研究

玻莫合金磁阻传感器在弱磁场测量方面有着巨大的优势,探讨了利用单片机控制技术将HMC1022磁阻传感器应用于数字流向传感器的研制中,以替代模拟方位传感器及码盘式方位传感器在海流计流向测量方面的应用,该流向传感器具有高精度、低功耗等特点。     

水下自航行观测平台开放式同步实时测量系统设计与实现

针对多传感器测量系统中存在的同步、实时测量不容易实现的问题,提出了解决方案。基于开放式、面向任务、模块化设计思想,设计并实现了实时数据采集系统的硬件结构和软件系统。研究并实现了基于I2C总线的多路传感器控制系统,描述了开放式应用控制协议的设计。介绍了主控制器端和传感器控制端软件结构及其实现。实现了多传感器测量任务并发执行,保证了各个传感器测量数据的实时性和有效性。     

海底沉积物声学参数相对量测量技术

针对目前海底沉积物声学特性普遍采用的绝对量测量方法的不足,提出了一种通过相对量来测量海底沉积物声学特性的新方法。并基于本测量方法原理设计了以声波探针为传感器、复杂可编程逻辑器件为核心的多通道声信号测量系统。本系统可发射单个、几个和连续的正弦波或脉冲波,且可在小频率范围内进行扫频。既可测量小距离(如一个波长以内)海底沉积物声波参数,又可测量长距离(如100个波长以上)海底沉积物声波参数。用本系统测量了一批海底沉积物样品,通过实验验证了测量系统的有效性。     

超声多普勒测量海底渗漏气泡流速的实验研究

海底渗漏气泡流速是测量海底冷泉渗漏气体流量的主要参数。为了测量海底渗漏气泡流速,利用超声多普勒测量的原理和气泡的二次多普勒效应,提出海底渗漏气泡速度的超声多普勒测量方法。超声多普勒测量根据超声多普勒原理设计了气泡流量测量装置,通过多普勒频移算出海底渗漏气泡流速,同时用视频法测出海底渗漏气泡流速。从多普勒法和视频法的气泡速度数据t分布95%的置信水平误差可知,视频法的气泡速度数据的波动大于多普勒法的气泡速度数据的波动,表明了超声多普勒测量海底渗漏气泡流速的有效性和准确性,优于视频法测量海底渗漏气泡流速。     

海底地形格网数据精度指标要求分析

海底地形不易进行实地探测及核实,海底地形格网数据产品精度指标的确定不具备实地核实的条件,为了确定海底地形格网数据精度指标,通过大量的数据实验,分析得出单位面积内,一定比例的极值水深差值的平均值与海底地形之间有一定的线性关系,从而提出了通过单位面积水深插值来划分海底地形的一种量化方式,并依据实验数据,分析误差规律,给出了海底地形格网数据中误差的精度指标及方法。     

投弃式波流测量传感器浮标体结构分析及伪刚体建模研究

根据投弃式波流测量传感器的功能及应用特点,提出了其浮标体的结构设计要求,并依此给出了所设计浮标体的主体结构。文中描述了所设计的投弃式波流测量传感器浮标体各部分的结构功能,论证了该浮标体在投弃式波流测量方面的结构优势。共研究了所设计的3种不同投弃式波流测量传感器浮标体结构,包括两种采用柔性浮力叶片的浮标体和一种采用刚性浮力叶片的浮标体。根据柔顺机构学理论分别建立了其中两种柔性浮标体的伪刚体模型。对比了刚性浮标体和两种柔性浮标体的伪刚体模型在波浪海流作用下的姿态特点,分析了各浮标体在波高测量时的误差原因,得出了其中C型柔性浮标体具有更好的随波浪和海流运动响应的结论。为更深入地进行投弃式波浪测量传感器浮标体运动学和动力学的相关研究提供了模型基础。     

海底沉积物声速实验室测量结果校正研究

海底沉积物实验室测量状态与海底原状态存在较大差异,因此有必要进行声速校正.基于研究海底浅表层沉积物采样样品的原状态与实验室环境的差异,提出运用Hamilton声速校正模型对实验室测量沉积物声速数据进行校正,实现表层沉积物标准测量环境(23℃,1个大气压)下的声速校正到海底原状态;设计了温度变化实验测试南海海底沉积物的声速比变化,验证了Hamilton模型的可行性并将其推广到室温状态下各个温度的校正;分析了Hamilton声速校正模型应用于海底浅表层沉积物声速校正的可行性.     

基于单轴定标的三轴磁传感器的误差校正

提出了一种校正三轴磁传感器综合误差的新方法。该方法利用三轴磁传感器的误差校正数学模型和遗传算法,通过预先对其中某单轴灵敏度定标,并以此为标准来校正其他两轴以及综合误差。仿真结果表明,该方法稳定收敛并可达到1nT精度。用实际地磁场测量数据对该方法进行验证,结果表明磁传感器性能得到极大改善,测量精度有了较大幅度提高。     

深海海底原位观测站倾角测量优化设计

设计1套倾角测量装置,用以配合海底原位设备对深海环境探测。分析常规的低成本倾角测量方式的原理及存在的不足,提出采用差动输入运算放大器对传感器数据进行预处理、提高后期倾角分辨率的方案。实验证明,这种方案能够扩大输出量程、提高倾角分辨率。在全角度范围内,分辨率在(0.18(°),0.5(°))区间变化,能够满足海底观测站对高精度倾角测量的要求。     

A note on the seafloor coupling characteristics of the new ONR ocean-bottom seismometer

A series of transient tests were conducted to determine the seafloor coupling characteristics of a new ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS) developed for the United States Office of Naval Research (ONR). The OBS comprises a large recording package and a separate sensor package that is deployed from the recording package. In addition to the coupling characteristics of both the sensor and the recording packages, the seismic energy radiated from the main recording package as a result of motion of the recording package was measured. The observed vertical coupling resonances of both the recording package and the sensor package are in good agreement with those predicted by a simple model of soil-structure interaction. The most important result of this study is that significant energy is radiated from the recording package in response to horizontal motions of the recording package. When the sensor package is 1 m from the recording package, the amplitude of the recorded signal is similar to that recorded in the recording package. In the field, this effect will result in distortion of seismic signals and increased background noise recorded by the sensor package if the recording package is disturbed by seafloor currents or biological activity. The amplitude of this signal attenuates by approximately a factor of two as sensor/recorder separation is increased from 1 to 6 m, suggesting that an improved response can be achieved by increasing the separation between the recording package and the sensors. This effect is much less severe for vertical disturbances of the recording package.     

New buoy observation system for tsunami and crustal deformation

We have developed a new system for real-time observation of tsunamis and crustal deformation using a seafloor pressure sensor, an array of seafloor transponders and a Precise Point Positioning (PPP ) system on a buoy. The seafloor pressure sensor and the PPP system detect tsunamis, and the pressure sensor and the transponder array measure crustal deformation. The system is designed to be capable of detecting tsunami and vertical crustal deformation of ±8 m with a resolution of less than 5 mm. A noteworthy innovation in our system is its resistance to disturbance by strong ocean currents. Seismogenic zones near Japan lie in areas of strong currents like the Kuroshio, which reaches speeds of approximately 5.5 kt (2.8 m/s) around the Nankai Trough. Our techniques include slack mooring and new acoustic transmission methods using double pulses for sending tsunami data. The slack ratio can be specified for the environment of the deployment location. We can adjust slack ratios, rope lengths, anchor weights and buoy sizes to control the ability of the buoy system to maintain freeboard. The measured pressure data is converted to time difference of a double pulse and this simple method is effective to save battery to transmit data. The time difference of the double pulse has error due to move of the buoy and fluctuation of the seawater environment. We set a wire-end station 1,000 m beneath the buoy to minimize the error. The crustal deformation data is measured by acoustic ranging between the buoy and six transponders on the seafloor. All pressure and crustal deformation data are sent to land station in real-time using iridium communication.     

Study on the high precision acoustic measurement techniques for determining temperature field around seafloor hydrothermal vent

This paper presents the basis of acoustic method used for temperature field measurement of seafloor hydrothermal vent and two techniques of the parabolic interpolation and the bending compensation of propagation paths of acoustic signal are introduced. Experimental research is performed to exactly rebuild the temperature field around hot springs on the floor of Qiezishan Lake, Yunnan, China. The accuracy of the travel time estimation has been improved based on the aforementioned technique and method. At the same time, by comparison of the results of temperature field with different means, the max absolute error, the maximum relative error and the root mean square error are given. It shows that the technique and the method presented in the paper can be applied to the temperature field measurement detector around the seafloor hydrothermal vent. It also has a good accuracy.     

Detailed seafloor geomorphology of the western region of the North Yellow Sea,China: The result of Holocene erosional and depositional processes sculpting the offshore continental shelf

High-resolution multi-beam/single-beam bathymetric data and seismic profiling data from the latest surveys are used to map and interpret the detailed seafloor geomorphology of the western region of the North Yellow Sea (NYS), China. The mapping area covers 156 410 km2, and incorporates a flat shelf plain, subaqueous accumulation shoals, tidal scouring troughs, and tidal sand ridge groups. Offshore areas with water depths less than 50 m in the western region of the NYS are mainly covered by thick, loose sediments, forming wide spread accumulation geomorphological features; these include the Liaodong Peninsula subaqueous accumulation system containing shoals and rugged scouring troughs, and the large mud wedge of the Shandong Peninsula. In the central part of the NYS, there is a relatively flat residual shelf plain with coarser sediment deposits. This flat shelf plain has a water depth larger than 50 m and a thin layer of sediment, on which there is a large pockmark field caused by seafloor seepage. These geomorphological structures indicate that modern sedimentary processes are the main driving force controlling the sculpture of the current seafloor surface landform. Extensive strong tidal current systems and abundant sediment sources provide the critical external forces and essential conditions for the formation of seafloor geomorphology. The tectonic basement controls the macroscopic morphological shape of the NYS, but is reflected very little in the seafloor geomorphic elements. Our results provide a detailed seafloor geomorphological map of the western region of the NYS, an area that has not previously mapped and also provide a scientific framework for further research into offshore seafloor geomorphology, shelf sedimentary processes, and submarine engineering construction in this region.     

A Remotely Operated Serial Sampler for Collecting Gas-Tight Fluid Samples

This paper describes the design, construction and preliminary test results for a gas-tight serial sampler intended to be deployed at seafloor for long-term operation to take time-series fluid samples from deep-sea environments such as cold seeps, water column and hydrothermal vents. The serial sampler is a modular system that is based on independent and identical sampling modules, which are designed to collect six 160 ml gas-tight fluid samples maintained at high pressure to a depth of 4000 meters. With two working modes, the sampler can be deployed either with seafloor cabled observatory for remote control or as a stand-alone device for autonomous operation. A prototype of the instrument has been constructed and tested on the MARS cabled observatory for two months. The laboratory and field tests proved the success of the design and construction of the serial sampler, and indicated the potential for future ocean sciences.     

Accuracy assessment of GPS/Acoustic positioning using a Seafloor Acoustic Transponder System

The accuracy of GPS/Acoustic positioning is crucial for monitoring seafloor crustal deformation. However, the slant range residual is currently the only indicator used to evaluate the precision of positioning seafloor transponders. This study employs a unique Seafloor Acoustic Transponder System (SATS) to evaluate the accuracy of GPS/Acoustic seafloor positioning. The SATS has three transponders and an attitude sensor in a single unit, which provides true lengths of transponder baselines and true attitude of the SATS to ensure assessment reliability and validity. The proposed approach was tested through a GPS/Acoustic experiment, in which an off-the-shelf acoustic system was used to collect range measurements. Using GPS/Acoustic geodetic observations, the positions of three transponders on the SATS were estimated by an optimization technique combined with ray-tracing calculations. The accuracy of the GPS/Acoustic seafloor positioning is assessed by comparing the true baselines and attitude with the results derived from the position estimates of the three transponders. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to investigate the robustness of the GPS/Acoustic positioning results to changes of sound speed. Experimental results demonstrate that the use of the SATS can help to assess the validity of the GPS and acoustic travel time measurements in the GPS/Acoustic seafloor positioning.     

Seafloor mapping for geohazard assessment: state of the art

During the last two decades, increasing use of full-coverage sonic mapping of the seafloor has made us more aware of the large and different number of seafloor processes and events bearing significant geohazard potential. This awareness combines with the increasing use of the seafloor for infrastructure and with the high density of population and settlement on the coast. Seafloor mapping is the first step in making a census of the geohazard-bearing features present in a given offshore area. It often provides the only tool for a comprehensive, although non-specific, seafloor geohazard assessment over large areas that are scarcely groundtruthed by acoustic prospection and seafloor sampling. However, the characterization of geohazard features on a morphological basis alone is limited, and more detailed investigations are needed to define the character and state of activity of potentially hazardous features. Such investigations include the use of deep-tow or autonomous platforms designed to acquire high-resolution data at depth as well as in situ measurements, both being very expensive activities not applicable over large areas. Thus seafloor mapping is often not only the first and the main but also the only tool for a comprehensive seafloor geohazard assessment. This special issue represents an example of the diversity of approaches to seafloor geohazard assessment and summarizes the present state of this discipline. Both the diverse technologies applied and the specific aims of offshore geohazard assessment brought different communities to deal with the study of seafloor processes and events from remarkably distinct viewpoints. We identified three end members in offshore geohazard assessment: (1) geohazard assessment ??sensu stricto??, (2) ??engineering?? geohazard assessment, (3) ??non-specific?? geohazard assessment. These are being conducted by industry, academia and public agencies in charge of civil protection and land-use planning and management. Understanding the needs and geohazard perception of the different groups is a necessary step for a profitable collaboration in such an interesting and rapidly developing field of marine geology.     

Efficient Sensor Characteristic Selection for Cost-Effective Distributed Sensor Networks

For distributed sensor technologies whose costs are understood (or which may be estimated in some reasonable manner), we derive a simple analytic means by which to estimate the most cost-effective sensor detection range. Specifically, we consider design of sensor nodes whose purpose is to exploit a set of coherent acoustic array technologies to detect a target with a specified radiated signature in an environment characterized by the sonar equation. We define a simplified calculus of distributed search that exploits simple target motion as a means to enhance spatial coverage for a sparse field of uniformly distributed sensor nodes. We examine this strategy in the context of both area (two-dimensional) and volume (three-dimensional) surveillance coverage under both cylindrical and spherical spreading models. In all situations, cost-effective design guidance is given based on maintaining spatial detection coverage     

Benthic Disturbance and Impact Experiments in the Central Indian Ocean Basin

As a part of the Environmental Impact Assessment studies for nodule mining, a long-term program has been initiated in the Central Indian Basin. Multidisciplinary studies on geological, biological, physical, and chemical parameters were carried out in an area selected on the basis of baseline data collected in the first phase of the program. A benthic disturbance was simulated with a hydraulic device also used in the previous experiments in the Pacific Ocean. A site of 3,000 ×200 m was repeatedly disturbed by a combination of fluidizing pump and suction pump to dislodge and discharge sediment from the seafloor into the water column 5 m above the seafloor. During 9 days of operation, 26 tows were carried out for 47 h of disturbance, resuspending about 6,000 m 3 of sediment along an 88-km line. Data for postdisturbance impact assessment were collected with sediment traps, deep-towed cameras, seafloor samples, and conductivity-temperature depth sensor (CTD)-rosette observations. Seafloor data, sediment samples, and water column studies were aimed at evaluating the impact of benthic disturbance, on the basis of pre- and postdisturbance data collected during the experiment. Observations show that vertical mixing of sediment as well as its lateral movement and resedimentation because of plume migration alters various parameters and leads to changes in the environment around the area.     

Detectability analysis of interplate fault slips in the Nankai subduction thrust using seafloor observation instruments

To help the decision making regarding where to locate new observation instruments on the seafloor, we examined the detectability of interplate earthquakes and slow slips in the Nankai subduction thrust in Japan using seafloor observation instruments. Here, the detectability is defined as the smallest magnitude of the interplate fault slip detected by the assumed observation points based on crustal deformation simulation. In the detectability analyses, we considered the effect of sensor drifts that are particularly associated with seafloor observations. In addition, we introduced high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) finite element modeling of crustal deformation to consider the effect of the topography and 3D heterogeneous crustal structure around the Nankai Trough. The results of the detectability analyses show that introducing new seafloor stations for tilt observation in the Nankai region should increase the detectability of small- or medium-sized interplate earthquakes and slow slips significantly. Based on the obtained results, we also discuss the advantage of both the existing and the new observation instruments in detecting interplate fault slips.