The estimation of ocean bottom seismographs' coupling characteristics by means of microshock recordings

A transient technique was used for estimating the bottom-instrument response function in experiments with bottom seismographs (OBS) in deep ocean. The sharp mechanical impacts on bottom seismograph usually induced by bottom displacements under the instrument (microshocks) are suggested as rough analogues of the impulses for the bottom-instrument system transient calibration. It has been found that microshocks has usually sufficiently small duration to be used for coupling characteristics estimates. Test measurements have shown that in many cases this method makes it possible to distinguish spectral features characterising earthquakes and seismic noise wavetrains from those which are caused by coupling resonances of the OBS-sediment inter-face.     

Current-generated noise recorded on ocean bottom seismometers

High-amplitude, anrrow band noise that correlates with periods of high ocean bottom currents and the tidal cycle is occasionally observed on ocean bottom seismometers (OBS). The geophones on OBSs of different configurations are not equally sensitive to this noise and hydrophones are almost unaffected. With a suitable design, it should be possible to eliminate this noise problem.Hawaii Institute of Geophysics Contribution No. 1173     

Depth dependence of noise resulting from ship traffic and wind

Under conditions of distantly generated noise, the noise level is found to decrease with depth in the mid-northeastern Pacific. These data show a decrease in noise level greater than 25 dB between critical depth and the ocean bottom. A result of this decrease is that locally wind-generated noise can be detected on near-bottom receivers for wind speeds less than 10 kn. It is shown that the noise level generated form local sources such as wind and nearby shipping is almost independent of receiver depth. The differences in spectra shape between the distant shipping noise and wind-generated noise and the low noise levels detected near the ocean bottom allow the measurement in the frequency band at 200-500 Hz of local wind noise level for wind speeds less than 10 kn     

Precise optical path length measurement through an optical fiber: Application to seafloor strain monitoring

An optical fiber strainmeter intended for measuring tectonic strains on the seafloor is under development. In this instrument, an optical fiber is stretched between two points fixed to the ocean bottom; relative displacement of these points causes a change in the elongation of the fiber. This associated change in optical path length is monitored by an electronic distance meter. The dominant sources of noise in determining the optical path length of the fiber stem from the dependence of the fiber's index of refraction on both wavelength and temperature. In a 50 day long experiment performed in the shallow ocean, a test fiber was installed along a 210 m long baseline on the bottom. The RMS variation in length was 5 mm except for two displacements of order 10 cm caused by known effects.     

Measured vertical noise directionality at five sites in the Western North Atlantic

Solutions were computed for the vertical ambient sea noise field directionality at five sites in the Western North Atlantic Ocean using data from a 26-hydrophone element array with a 358.4-foot aperture at a center depth of 1,000 feet. Results show that the low-frequency noise below 100 Hz is concentrated near the horizontal (50 to 93 percent of the noise power between /spl plusmn/15/spl deg/ of horizontal) and is apparently dependent on bottom loss and shipping density. The results in the band 200 to 380 Hz are a combination of sea state and shipping noise dependent. A noise field solution technique was developed involving noise cross spectral matrix inversions. This technique overcomes some of the drawbacks of previous techniques such as least mean square estimation and successive approximations.     

Vertical Directionality of Midfrequency Surface Noise in Downward-Refracting Environments

The vertical directionality of ambient noise due to surface agitation for frequencies between 2 and 5 kHz propagated to a subsurface receiver has a characteristic shape, knowledge of which may enhance shallow-water operations. In general, the noise level is highest at upward-looking angles and attenuated at downward-looking angles depending on the nature of the bottom. In environments with a negative profile gradient, the noise level is also greatly reduced in a low-angle shadow zone or "notch" at angles around horizontal. This paper reviews the character of vertical noise directionality by examining two measured data sets and considering the underlying physical mechanisms that drive the form of the distribution. A discussion of the implications of vertical noise directionality for design and operation of receiving sonar systems is presented. In particular, the effect of mainlobe beamwidth and sidelobe suppression are considered along with the directionality of the noise field. Finally, an overview of the derivation of a vertical noise model based on the integrated mode method of propagation prediction is followed by model reproduction of measurements.     

Fidelity of ocean bottom seismic observations

The often poor quality of ocean bottom seismic data, particularly that observed on horizontal seismometers, is shown to be the result of instruments responding to motions in ways not intended. Instruments designed to obtain the particle motion of the ocean bottom are found to also respond to motions of the water. The shear discontinuity across the ocean floor boundary results in torques that cause package rotation, rather than rectilinear motion, in response to horizontal ground or water motion. The problems are exacerbated by bottom currents and soft sediments. The theory and data presented in this paper suggest that the only reliable way of obtaining high fidelity particle motion data from the ocean floor is to bury the sensors below the bottom in a package with density close to that of the sediment. Long period signals couple well to ocean bottom seismometers, but torques generated by bottom currents can cause noise at both long and short periods. The predicted effects are illustrated using parameters appropriate for the operational OBS developed for the U. S. Office of Naval Research. Examples of data from ocean bottom and buried sensors are also presented.     

Uncertainties of differential phase estimation associated withinterferometric sonars

The differential phase technique has been widely used in various sonar systems; however, uncertainties associated with the estimation of scatterer depths are not completely understood. Numerical simulations for multiple bottom scatterers are performed, and they show that the uncertainties of depth measurements, in the absence of noise interferences, are much greater than the amount explainable by the uncertainty associated with the signal-arrival-angle within an instantaneous insonified area. The cause of the excess deviation is analyzed, particularly for the two-scatterer case. This kind of error is referred to as “baseline decorrelation” which is related to the speckle phenomena and can be considered as an equivalent noise source. Experimental data obtained by a particular high-frequency (40 kHz) interferometric system, the Benthic Acoustic Measurement System (BAMS) developed by the Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, at a flat sandy bottom off the coast of Panama City, FL, were analyzed. Both analytical formulas and a numerical model are given to estimate the measurement uncertainty caused by the baseline decorrelation, as well as noise interferences based on the parameters of the BAMS, in order to understand uncertainties of the differential phase estimation. It is found that baseline decorrelation is the main source of error for the BAMS for grazing angles greater than 12°. The measurement uncertainties at this grazing angle interval are in agreement with the theoretical predictions     

Beam forming on bottom-interacting tow-ship noise

Ship noise received on a horizontal array towed behind the ship is shown to be useful as a potentially diagnostic tool for estimating local acoustic bottom properties. In numerical simulations, tow-ship noise which bounces off the bottom is processed on a beamformer that shows the arrival angles; the beamformer output is readily interpreted by relating it to the Green's function of the acoustic wave equation. Simple signal processing is shown to be sufficient to extract the propagation angles of the "trapped" (i.e., propagating) modes of the acoustic waveguide. By relating the trapped modes to a basic geophysical model of the bottom, one can predict acoustic-propagation conditions for a particular bottom-interacting ocean acoustic environment.     

Characteristics of SeaMARC II phase data

The dispersion of SeaMARC II phase-difference samples is discussed. They appear to be a function of signal direction, range, noise level, and backscatter strength of the bottom. Field data from a lava flow area and from sedimented areas at different depths are compared. The temporal distribution of the phase-difference samples was skewed and asymmetrical about the model. The angular distribution was symmetrical about the mode, with some phase wrap-around. The field data show the presence of a complicated noise interference field. The amount of phase-difference dispersion was larger than that calculated by using a simple Gaussian isotropic noise model, possibly suggesting an additional phase-dispersion process caused by bottom roughness. The method used to produce bathymetry data from the phase-difference samples was evaluated in light of the phase-difference sample distribution     

Determination of the sea depth using the light pulse location technique

Through analysis of the regularities in the signal-to-noise ratio variation we have determined the maximum depths of bottom location using the method of laser sounding, depending on the bottom albedo, the optical properties of the sea-water layer, the characteristics of the radiation source and detector, the magnitude of all types of noise, dark-current noise, Schottky noise, the noise of a light pulse propagation channel, and background noise. Simple formulae have been derived for technological calculations, optimization, and assessment of the efficiency of specific sounding systems.Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Deep-ocean vertical noise directionality

The structure of beam noise measured at the output of a vertical array in a range dependent ocean basin was investigated using the modified wide-angle parabolic equation (PE). Noise sources were distributed throughout the basin, and the field due to each noise source at an array located in the midbasin was calculated. The response of the array to the superposition of the noise sources was found by beamforming. An efficient and direct approach that superimposes the noise sources on the PE field as the field is marched toward the array was developed. Downslope calculations of the midbasin vertical directionality were made between 50 and 400 Hz with this technique. Use of a geoacoustic model shows that the bottom behaves as a low-pass filter     

Using ocean ambient noise for array self-localization and self-synchronization

Estimates of the travel times between the elements of a bottom hydrophone array can be extracted from the time-averaged ambient noise cross-correlation function (NCF). This is confirmed using 11-min-long data blocks of ambient noise recordings that were collected in May 1995 near the southern California coast at an average depth of 21 m in the 150-700 Hz frequency range. Coherent horizontal wavefronts emerging from the time derivative of the NCF are obtained across the array's aperture and are related to the direct arrival time of the time-domain Green's function (TDGF). These coherent wavefronts are used for array element self-localization (AESL) and array element self-synchronization (AESS). The estimated array element locations are used to beamform on a towed source.     

浅海有限面积源的噪声场空间相关特性研究

本文对有限面积噪声源产生的噪声场的空间相关特性作了讨论。分别研究了接收器处于源区域里面和外面的情形。对一浅海典型声速剖面和 Baltic海区的噪声场相关特性及噪声场强度进行了计算 ,并与无限大噪声源平面的噪声场特性作了比较。同时 ,为把连续谱考虑在内 ,引入一虚假深海底 ,用复模式和来近似计算分支割线的贡献。但当接收器远离源区域时 ,连续谱经过在下介质中的长程传播 ,衰减迅速 ,故其对噪声场的贡献可以忽略 ,而仅考虑离散简正波场的贡献。结果发现 ,有限面积源的噪声场结构无论是水平结构 ,还是垂直结构均是不均匀的 ,都依赖于接收场点的绝对位置。这与无限大噪声源平面所形成的噪声场的特性是不一样的     

Ocean-bottom-seismograph of the Institut für Geophysik,Hamburg

The ocean bottom seismograph (OBS) of the Institut für Geophysik, Hamburg (IfG) is designed for refraction seismic experiments and for recording microseismic noise. Hydrophone signals are recorded directly on a casette tape recorder with a band width of 3–60 Hz. Signals from three component 1 Hz seismometers are recorded on a 2nd casette tape recorder in FM for a frequency range of 0.1–1 Hz. A telemetering buoy at the surface is connected with the OBS by a polypropylene rope.     

Measurement of tsunamis in the open ocean

Abstract

The spectrum of long waves, which are a background to tsunamis, is analyzed on the basis of records of near‐bottom pressure sensors obtained in the Northwest Pacific during the first and second USA‐USSR expeditions on the investigation of tsunamis in the open ocean (1975 and 1978). Instrumental trends, tidal oscillations, and quasistationary longwave noise were contained in the records. Special filters were used to pick out small waves generated by the seismicity of the ocean bottom. A decrease of noise level from 10² cm (including tides) to 10°¹ cm could be reached. The level of long‐wave noise is found to depend on the instrument's location. Minimal disturbances in the records were observed at stations situated on the edge of the continental slope. The influence of cyclones passing over the instrument's site is deduced. It shows an increase in noise level on Nyquist frequency (0.5 min°¹), which possibly is caused by the action of swell generated by the cyclone. Seismicity of the region under investigation for the second expedition (August‐October 1978) is described, and the recurrence of tsunamis is estimated, including microtsunamis. Taking into account this analysis, records were filtered and sections corresponding to probable arrivals of tsunamis from most strong earthquakes were selected. The anomalous disturbance of ocean level with a height of about 0.5 cm was found. Presumably, it was generated by an earthquake with magnitude M = 6.     

ADCP application for long-term monitoring of coastal water

Three kind of application of ADCP is reported for long-term monitoring in coastal sea. (1)The routine monitoring of water qualities. The water quality and ADCP echo data (600 kHz) observed in the long-term are analgzed at MT (Marine Tower) Station of Kansai International Airport in the Osaka Bay, Japan. The correlation between the turbidity and echo intensity in the surface layer is not good because air bubbles generated by breaking wave are not detected by the turbidity meter, but detected well by ADCP. When estimating the turbidity consists ofplankrton population from echo intensity, the effect of bubbles have to be eliminated. (2) Monitoring stirring up of bottom sediment. The special observation was carried out by using following two ADCP in the Osaka Bay, One ADCP was installed upward on the sea. The other ADCP was hanged downward at the gate type stand about 3 m above from the bottom. At the spring tide, high echo intensities indicating the stirring up of bottom sediment were observed. (3) The monitoring for the boundary condition of water mixing at an estuary. In summer season, the ADCP was set at the mouth of Tanabe Bay in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. During the observation, water temperature near the bottom showed remarkable falls with interval of about 5～7d. When the bottom temperature fell, the inflow current with low echo intensity water appears at the bottom layer in the ADCP record. It is concluded that when occasional weak northeast wind makes weak coastal upwelling at the mouth of the bay, the combination ofupwelling with internal tidal flow causes remarkable water exchange and dispels the red tide.     

Geoacoustic inversion of tow-ship noise via near-field-matched-field processing

This paper discusses geoacoustic inversion from tow-ship noise data acquired via a horizontal towed array. Through simulations and experimental results, it is shown that even very quiet ships radiate sufficient noise power to enable self-noise inversion of basic geoacoustic parameters such as effective bottom velocity. The experimental results presented are particularly encouraging in view of the high level of interference shown to be tolerated from nearby shipping.     

An ocean bottom,microprocessor based seismometer

We describe the design and construction of an ocean bottom seismometer configured as a computer, based on an Intersil IM6100 microprocessor plus appropriate peripheral devices. The sensors consist of triaxial 1 Hz seismometers and a hydrophone, each sensor channel being filtered prior to digitizing so that typical noise spectra are whitened. Digital data are recorded serially on magnetic tape. The instrument is placed on the ocean bottom by allowing it to fall freely from just below the surface. An acoustic system allows precise determination of instrument position, acoustic recall, and transmission of operational information to the surface. Release from an expendable anchor is accomplished by redundant pyrotechnic bolts which can be fired by acoustic command or by precision timers.The operational flexibility provided by the micro-computer, which executes the DEC PDP8/E instruction set, enables optimum use of the 6-hr recording capacity (at 128 samples/second/channel) in the context of the particular experiment being performed.

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Rapid swing and spin of [deep] taut-wire-moored instruments

Rapid ‘swing’, compass variations O(10°) in O(10 s), and ‘spin’, complete rotations around the vertical axis within a few minutes, are a concern of acoustic current meters moored in-line. Observations are used from fast sampling, at once per 1 and 30 s, instrumentation on deep-ocean moorings mainly outside surface wave and bottom boundary influences. Such instruments do not require a vane common to some historic mechanical current meters and they are often moored in a much easier to handle sub-surface buoy or mounting rack, without vanes. In their mountings they are nearly symmetric, so that they can spin freely in (turbulent; shear) flows. A comparison is made between noise levels of such free spinning instrumentation with those of instruments mounted in a fixed bottom-frame and with those of instruments equipped with a vane to one side. Typical spinning has a single rotation varying between 40 and 200 s. Spinning is shown to be highly binary: on or off. Its effects are found negligible on estimates of ocean currents, provided compass updates are adequate as in existing instrumentation. Acoustic noise is O(10) times larger than noise due to spinning. Some effects of spinning are noticed in the acoustic echo amplitude showing higher noise at frequencies >100 cpd, cycles per day. The character of this noise changes dramatically due to spinning. However, it is mainly in the ocean turbulence range and does not affect measurements of internal waves or periodic zooplankton motions.