Experimental Studies of Sound Attenuation in Seabed Sediments on Column Sample Length Scale

Seabed sediment microstructure has an influence on its acousto-physical properties, and the properties in a length of the sediment column reflect an aspect of the macroscopic behavior of the microstructure. An original measurement method of the sound attenuation within small distance cross sections in a sediment column, and the corresponding approach in data processing to attain an attenuation factor are detailed in the paper. This method was used to measure the compressional wave in series of points with a small distance in the sediment column, and it is shown that exponential attenuation is a type of compressional wave attenuation model for a sediment column in its full length. It indicates that there are various models of compressional wave attenuation in seabed sediments in the South China Sea after comparison of data from other literature. The method of measuring sound attenuation satisfies the sampling space interval in the acoustical forward and inverse problems in seabed sediments, and the original method provides a new approach for finding out sound attenuation mechanism in seabed sediments on small length scale.     

Identifying soft sediments at sea using GIS-modelled predictor variables and Sediment Profile Image (SPI) measured response variables

Macrofauna composition and diversity in soft sediments are commonly used as “health indicators” in various pollution monitoring programmes worldwide. Hence, finding a modelling method for predicting the presence of soft sediments and enable production of digital maps of where soft sediments are likely to be found would be valuable for developing a cost-effective sampling design. This study presents a first-generation model that can predict where to find soft sediments in coastal areas with a complex topography and a mosaic of seabed habitat types. We used geophysical data that were quantitative, objectively defined (through GIS modelling) and integrated over time. We analysed, using a Generalised Additive Model (GAM) and the model-selection approach Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), the influence of in-situ measured depth and GIS-modelled terrain structures, wave exposure and current speed on the distribution of soft sediment measured using a Sediment Profile Image (SPI) camera. Our analyses showed that the probability of finding soft sediment was best determined by depth, terrain curvature and median current speed at the seafloor. These predictors were used to develop a spatial predictive GIS-model/-map (for parts of Skagerrak, Norway, with a spatial resolution of 25 m × 25 m) of the probability of soft seabed occurrence.     

基于浅地层剖面的海底浅表层沉积物物理性质参数反演技术研究

海底浅表层（小于1 m）沉积物的物理性质,如粒度、孔隙度、密度等是海洋沉积学研究和海洋工程地质分析的重要内容,目前主要基于有限的海底取样或原位测试获取这些沉积物的物理性质。浅地层剖面是基于声学信号（频率几千赫兹）在沉积物中的传播得到可反映沉积地层结构的数据,其中的一些声学参数,如海底反射系数、波阻抗等与沉积物物理性质密切相关。如何充分而有效地利用浅地层剖面资料,反演得到剖面覆盖区海底浅表层沉积物的物理性质参数,极具科学意义和应用价值,且基于声学属性反演沉积物物理性质是当前研究的热点。为此,本文基于渤海LD16-3CEPA至LD10-1PAPD路由段的浅地层剖面数据和海底表层沉积物的实测物理参数,利用Biot-Stoll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,并基于浅地层剖面数据计算得到的海底反射系数,反演了研究区海底浅表层沉积物的孔隙度、密度、平均粒径等物理性质参数。其中反演的孔隙度、密度、平均粒径与实测孔隙度、密度、平均粒径基本相符,偏差度基本都在20%的偏差范围内,表明该反演方法在该区的应用是可行的。     

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。     

浅海沉积层声学特性对声传播损失的影响仿真研究

为厘清海底沉积层声学特性信息的水声环境保障需求,构建浅海两层海底环境参数模型,并参考Hamilton海底底质9种分类设置沉积层声速、密度、衰减系数及厚度的参考值及计算采样区间,利用Kraken简振波模型,采用控制变量的方法,研究了浅海沉积层声学特性参数对声传播损失的影响;开展了建模理论推导及数值技术分析,研究了海底沉积层声学特性参数在模型计算过程中调用过程,并从建模计算的角度对仿真计算的结果进行解释,对海底沉积层声学特性调查装备发展及调查重点参数具有一定的参考价值。     

海底沉积物实验室剪切波速度及其与沉积物的物理性质之间的关系

采用压电陶瓷弯曲元法和共振柱试验的方法对采自我国海域的一些典型海底浅表层沉积物样品进行了剪切波速测试,获得首批可信数据.两种方法所测得的剪切波速数据具有很好的一致性,且在数赫兹至数十千赫兹频段范围内剪切波速不具明显弥散性.剪切波速与沉积物类型关系密切,不同海区和不同类型海底沉积物的剪切波速有明显差异.近海较细颗粒沉积物粉砂的剪切波速在100m/s左右,细颗粒沉积物的剪切波速在100m/s以下;陆架较粗颗粒沉积物的剪切波速最大,超过100m/s;深海、半深海细颗粒沉积物的剪切波速最低,小于50m/s.剪切波速与含水量、密度、孔隙度、塑限和液限等沉积物物理参数之间具很好的相关性,反映了剪切波速和物理性质之间的密切关系.剪切波速与压缩波速呈正相关性,但在不同的波速范围剪切波速随压缩波速的变化有很大不同.     

Pore pressures in marine sediments: An overview of measurement techniques and some geological and engineering applications

Pore pressures in the seabed are extremely sensitive to any imposed stress because of the low permeabilities commonly exhibited by marine sediments. Consequently, the measurement of sediment pore pressures can be used to infer either the nature of the imposed stress (if the sediment properties are known) or the physical properties of the sediment (if the imposed stresses are known). Stresses of many different types may be exerted on the seabed either through hydrostatic forces (e.g. tidal and wave effects), or directly by lithospheric forces (e.g. tectonic and thermal forces). Several techniques for measuring in situ pore pressures in the upper few metres of sediments have been developed, and one instrument, the PUPPI, will operate autonomously in water depths up to 6000 m. Basic sediment properties and processes can already be inferred from pore pressure responses using this technique. However, further application and development could greatly enhance its capability, especially for long-term monitoring of sediment conditions. In this Chapter, pore pressure measurement techniques are briefly reviewed and problems are highlighted. An outline is given of some of the many ways in which pore pressure measurements could be used to gain further insight into geological processes and to determine some of the pertinent sediment properties more accurately for engineering applications.     

北戴河海滩泥沙捕获实验及其初步结果分析

介绍了利用泥沙捕获器观测破波带泥沙垂直分布结构的现场实验方法和基本程序，以及利用实验结果计算泥沙通量的方法。研究表明，近岸带泥沙运移通量及其在垂向上的分布受破波带相对位置和海滩地形变化的影响。在破波点附近，波浪的搅动和流场作用强，泥沙运移通量增大，泥沙在波浪的作用下可以大量进入垂直水体以悬移和跃移的方式运移。在本实验中，破波点附近的泥沙在距海底100cm的垂直水体中运移，通量垂向向上逐渐减小。远离破波点，泥沙运移通量和进入垂直水体的高度明显下降。在地形变化复杂的有坝海滩，沙坝顶部的泥沙运移通量最大，泥沙进入垂直水体运移的机率增加，而在沙坝问的沟槽内，波浪和海流作用减弱，泥沙通量和垂向进入水体运移的比例下降。     

Lancelot—a seabed piezometric probe for geotechnical studies

A seabed instrument called Lancelot has been developed to measure pore pressure characteristics within potentially unstable marine sediment deposits, in any water depth. An estimate of the coefficient of consolidation can be obtained from the sediment pore pressure dissipation response that occurs following penetration into the seabed. This data can be used to calculate the coefficient of hydraulic conductivity, which is useful in analyzing the seepage velocity of pore fluids moving within the sediment mass. Pore-water pressures in excess of the normal hydrostatic profile are detected and used in static and dynamic liquefaction analyses, with a view toward understanding the origin of unusual seabed features such as pockmarks, as well as short-term instability caused by wave loading. An example of static liquefaction due to seepage stress is given for sites in and adjacent to the well-known 1929 Grand Banks debris flow, along with an example of incomplete liquefaction caused by dynamic wave loading within Miramichi Inner Harbor, New Brunswick. The adoption of in situ measurement techniques is shown to produce data of a quality not normally obtainable from recovered core samples, due to pressure relief and sampling disturbance effects.     

海底沉积物声衰减研究现状及展望

根据近年来海底沉积物声学物理研究发展的态势,介绍了与研究声衰减有关的海底沉积物样品采集装置和海洋沉积物声速结构模式,综合解析多种对海底沉积物声衰减等声学特性研究方法,并做出较为详细地比较和讨论,提出对海底沉积物声衰减研究在满足科研要求的同时也应符合国家标准和要求。同时,指出了研究海洋沉积物声衰减的必要性和重要性,强调了对海底沉积物声衰减研究的科学意义和应用意义。     

海底沉积物取样扰动的有限元研究

应用非线性有限元分析方法,对管状取样器取样过程中的沉积物扰动状况进行了研究.建立了取样管与沉积物接触的二维轴对称有限元模型.重点分析了取样时取样管内沉积物的变形、应力和应变状况.有限元分析结果表明了取样管贯入过程中沉积物应力、应变均产生了变化,扰动显著.证实了工程实际中取样所造成的沉积物样品原始层序混杂或弯曲变形、长度缩短等扰动的后果.海底沉积物的低扰动取样样品对于诸多海洋科学研究非常重要.     

In situ observations of wave pumping of sediments in the Yellow River Delta with a newly developed benthic chamber

A specially designed benthic chamber for the field observation of sediment resuspension that is caused by the wave-induced oscillatory seepage effect (i.e., the wave pumping of sediments) is newly developed. Observational results from the first sea trial prove that the geometry design and skillful instrumentation of the chamber well realize the goal of monitoring the wave pumping of sediments (WPS) continuously. Based on this field dataset, the quantitative contribution of the WPS to the total sediment resuspension is estimated to be 20–60% merely under the continuous action of normal waves (H_s ≤ 1.5 m) in the subaqueous Yellow River Delta (YRD). Such a large contribution invalidates a commonly held opinion that sediments are purely eroded from the seabed surface by the horizontal “shearing effect” from the wave orbital or current velocities. In fact, a considerable amount of sediments could originate from the shallow subsurface of seabed driven by the vertical “pumping effect” of the wave-generated seepage flows during wavy periods. According to the new findings, an improved conceptual model for the resuspension mechanisms of silty sediments under various hydrodynamics is proposed for the first time.     

Nearshore sediment characteristics and formation of mudbanks along the Kerala coast,southwest India

In order to gain insight into the formation dynamics of mudbanks off the Kerala coast of India, extensive surveying of the nearshore bathymetry along with sediment characterization was undertaken. The textural and geotechnical properties of the surficial sediments of a mudbank were determined during pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon periods. The mudbank sediments were clayey silts with high water and organic carbon contents, high Atterberg limits, and low bulk density, and therefore very susceptible to entrainment. During the monsoon, the mudbank regime was characterised by enhanced turbidity and a benthic fluff layer, triggered by the increasing swell of the early monsoon period. Re-suspension exposed a more consolidated, previously sub-bottom, layer which exhibited lower water content and greater shear strength than the pre-monsoon seabed. Texturally, the monsoon seabed was similar to the pre-monsoon seabed, with the same modal grain size, but the proportions of sand and coarse silt increased nearshore, while the proportions of fine and very fine silt increased offshore. There was a seaward-fining textural gradient at all times, but this became pronounced during the monsoon period. Paradoxically, the monsoonal seabed displayed greatly reduced wet bulk density. It is hypothesized that this was due to the presence of gas, probably methane, in the sediments (while the pre-monsoon sediments were fully saturated, the monsoon sediments were only 83% saturated). We speculate that the gas was forced into the surficial sediments either by wave pumping (at the onset of the monsoon) or by seaward-flowing subbottom freshwater (derived from monsoonal rains). With the waning of the monsoon, the benthic fluid mud layer rapidly disappeared and the seabed returned to its pre-monsoon state as suspended sediments were redeposited. The mudbank regime is therefore essentially an in situ phenomenon. It is suggested that the mudbanks are palimpsest, marshy, lagoonal deposits, rich in organic matter and derived gas, that were submerged after a marine transgression. The surficial sediment is annually entrained during the monsoon, but erosion is limited by the formation of the benthic fluid mud layer, which attenuates wave generated turbulence. Although some fine sediment disperses alongshore and offshore, most is returned to the seabed as the monsoon declines.     

人工岛建设对海口湾沉积特征与泥沙运移的影响

近年来,人工岛被广泛应用于沿海地区的填海造陆工程以快速获得优质土地,但大面积的人工岛建设会对近岸海底沉积物的分布模式及输运过程产生重要影响.为认识人工岛建设后沉积物变化与运移特征,本文以南海明珠人工岛对海口湾的影响为例,根据人工岛建设前后分别在海口湾近岸采集的底质表层沉积物分析了沉积物特征变化,结合沉积动力分析及粒径趋...     

基于多维度声学特征优选的多波束海底底质分类

海底表层底质分布信息的准确获取在构建海洋基础地理数据库中发挥着重要作用。目前,多波束是实现大范围海底底质分类的有效手段之一,基于多波束测深和反向散射强度数据所派生的声学特征被广泛应用于底质分类建模。然而,随着特征维度的增加,特征空间中存在的无关和冗余特征严重影响底质分类精度。为了定量评估声学特征对底质类别的表征能力,并消除无效特征对分类结果的干扰,本文提出了基于多维度声学特征优选的海底底质分类方法。首先,结合实际底质样本的物理属性对多维特征进行排序和优选,排除冗余和无关特征。其次,分别应用支持向量机、随机森林和深度信念网络构建海底底质监督分类模型。通过利用爱尔兰海南部多波束调查数据和实地取样信息进行试验,结果表明提出方法对海底底质的总体分类精度和Kappa系数分别最高达到了86.20%和0.834,相较于主成分分析和熵指标特征选择方法有明显提高,突出了该方法在海底底质探测及制图的应用潜力。     

江苏大丰海岸碱蓬滩潮沟及滩面的沉积动力特征

根据2002年7月在江苏大丰碱蓬滩潮沟观测的水文、悬沙、底质等资料,分析了潮沟的输水、输沙特征及悬沙和底质在粒径组成上的关系,结果表明,潮沟在流速、悬沙浓度、输水、悬沙输运、底质活动性等方面具有明显的涨落潮不对称.滩面归槽水占潮沟落潮输水量的33%,由此造成的悬沙输运量占潮沟落潮悬沙输运量的20%,这是导致潮沟涨落潮输水输沙不对称的主要因素.在一个潮周期中潮沟的净输水、净悬沙输运方向与滩面相反,指向落潮方向.悬沙和底质组成以粉砂和黏土为主,潮沟和滩面的悬沙粒径组成差别很小.悬沙是滩面底质的主要物质来源,两者在粒径组成上存在着必然联系,沉积物粒径与该粒级在底质中的含量与在悬沙中的含量之比具有明显的幂函数关系.     

Blending single beam RoxAnn and multi-beam swathe QTC hydro-acoustic discrimination techniques for the Stonehaven area,Scotland, UK

Surface properties of the seabed in a 180 km² area of coastal waters (14–57 m depth) off northeast Scotland were mapped by hydro-acoustic discrimination using single and multi-beam echosounders linked to signal processing systems (RoxAnn for the single beam, and Questor Tangent Corporation (QTC) Multiview for the multibeam). Subsequently, two ground truthing surveys were carried out, using grab and TV sampling. The RoxAnn and QTC-Multiview outputs showed strong similarity in their classifications of seabed types. Classifications generated by QTC-Multiview were used to supervise those based on seabed roughness and hardness indices produced by the RoxAnn system and thereby develop a ‘blended’ map based on both systems. The resulting hydro-acoustic classes agreed well with a cluster analysis of data on sediment grain sizes from the grab sampling, and indicated that the area could be described by distinct regions of surface texture and surficial sediments ranging from muddy sand to boulders and rock.     

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。