多波束声参数在海底热液区底质分类中的应用——以东太平洋海隆“宝石山”热液区为例

多波束声纳底质分类可以高效且全覆盖地认识海底底质类型及其分布特征。应用Simrad EM120多波束声纳对东太平洋海隆附近的"宝石山"热液区进行底质分类,一方面可以研究多波束声参数在深水热液区进行底质分类的效果,挖掘多波束声纳在海底底质分类方面的应用潜力;另一方面,通过研究热液区的底质取样、摄像以及多波束声纳资料,建立综合分析热液区底质的模式,获得热液区的底质类型及其分布特征。通过提取与底质属性相关的声纳回波反向散射强度数据,形成"宝石山"热液区的声纳图像,并结合该区域的取样与海底摄像资料,综合分析该热液区的底质类型及其分布特征,结果表明,沉积物在该热液区的喷口西侧广泛分布,在喷口周围主要是基岩与砾石的混杂底质。     

海底入射角对多波束反向散射强度的影响及其改正

综合考虑测船姿态、声线弯曲和海底地形对入射角的影响,推导了计算多波束海底入射角的实用模型。根据Lambert法则,改正海底入射角对反向散射强度的影响。实例计算结果表明,所述模型能精确地计算波束在海底的入射角,有效地改正其对反向散射强度的影响。     

基于EM算法和单幅雷达图像阴影的控制点坡度校正

对在我国现有的条件下进行控制点坡度校正的必要性进行了阐述,并分析了EM算法。根据EM算法以及基于区域增长的余弦散射模型建立了控制点坡度校正模型,并用河北省张北地区的雷达影像进行了实验,取得了较高的精度初值。     

基于光学技术的水下气泡探测实验研究

热液/冷泉溢出含有硫化氢、甲烷、二氧化碳等化学成分的气泡。实验室模拟海底热液/冷泉资源溢出气泡环境搭建了实验平台,以甲烷气体为实验气体,在黑暗环境下用高速光电探测器对气泡后向散射光进行接收,用拉曼光谱仪实现甲烷气体气泡后向散射光的拉曼检测,并与计算拉曼光谱比较。由结果可知激光拉曼光谱可以探测到气泡后向散射光,并识别气泡中含有的气体成分。通过探测气泡成分,从而判定这些气泡是否来自海底热液/冷泉等甲烷资源溢出。这样的探测方式,探测准确率高,缓解探测深度,同时避免探测设备直接与海底资源直接接触而造成的寿命缩减,为将来的海洋探测与实际应用打下了良好的基础。     

Timber production assessment of a plantation forest: An integrated framework with field-based inventory,multi-source remote sensing data and forest management history

Timber production is the purpose for managing plantation forests, and its spatial and quantitative information is critical for advising management strategies. Previous studies have focused on growing stock volume (GSV), which represents the current potential of timber production, yet few studies have investigated historical process-harvested timber. This resulted in a gap in a synthetical ecosystem service assessment of timber production. In this paper, we established a Management Process–based Timber production (MPT) framework to integrate the current GSV and the harvested timber derived from historical logging regimes, trying to synthetically assess timber production for a historical period. In the MPT framework, age-class and current GSV determine the times of historical thinning and the corresponding harvested timber, by using a “space-for-time” substitution. The total timber production can be estimated by the historical harvested timber in each thinning and the current GSV. To test this MPT framework, an empirical study on a larch plantation (LP) with area of 43,946 ha was conducted in North China for a period from 1962 to 2010. Field-based inventory data was integrated with ALOS PALSAR (Advanced Land-Observing Satellite Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar) and Landsat-8 OLI (Operational Land Imager) data for estimating the age-class and current GSV of LP. The random forest model with PALSAR backscatter intensity channels and OLI bands as input predictive variables yielded an accuracy of 67.9% with a Kappa coefficient of 0.59 for age-class classification. The regression model using PALSAR data produced a root mean square error (RMSE) of 36.5 m³ ha⁻¹. The total timber production of LP was estimated to be 7.27 × 10⁶ m³, with 4.87 × 10⁶ m³ in current GSV and 2.40 × 10⁶ m³ in harvested timber through historical thinning. The historical process-harvested timber accounts to 33.0% of the total timber production, which component has been neglected in the assessments for current status of plantation forests. Synthetically considering the RMSE for predictive GSV and misclassification of age-class, the error in timber production were supposed to range from −55.2 to 56.3 m³ ha⁻¹. The MPT framework can be used to assess timber production of other tree species at a larger spatial scale, providing crucial information for a better understanding of forest ecosystem service.     

Abrupt axial variations along the slow to ultra-slow spreading centers of the northern North Fiji Basin (SW Pacific): Evidence for short wave heterogeneities in a back-arc mantle

This study presents results of surveys conducted along the slow to ultra-slow spreading axis of the Northern North Fiji Basin (NNFB), including the Hazel Holmes, Tripartite and South Pandora Ridges, and the newly discovered Futuna and North Cikobia spreading centers. Spreading segments along these axes display highly contrasted axial morphologies, ranging from a rift valley to a prominent axial high. In some places, abrupt inversions of topography are observed between neighboring segments. Detailed analyses of bathymetry and backscatter maps reveal that axial highs are spotted with numerous coalescent volcanoes forming features ranging from irregular terrains to well-organized ridges. The volcanic edifices are distributed over a wide neovolcanic zone, which corresponds to the axial relief, suggesting on important contribution of volcanism to the relief construction. Comparisons between various ridge-shaped segments reveal that axial volcano-tectonic patterns are directly related to the local magma production and delivery, in a context of tectonic extension related to plate divergence, and suggest that coalescent volcanoes are fed from multiples short-lived and unconnected magma lenses. In the competition between horizontal and vertical accretion of oceanic crust, the spreading centers of the NNFB represent a special case where lava production is locally high enough and spreading rate is low enough to allow prominent axial highs to develop. The along axis morphologic variability is related to intermittent volcanic activity that may result from rapid temporal and spatial variations in the distribution of upper mantle convection cells below accretion centers, superimposed on the regional thermal anomaly located under the whole basin.     

Calibration techniques and sampling resolution requirements for groundtruthing multibeam acoustic backscatter (EM3000) and QTC VIEW™ classification technology

Both acoustic and sediment surveys were carried out in the Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, in order to map a former aquaculture site and calibrate acoustic surveys with georeferenced sediment properties. The acoustic surveys included EM3000 Multibeam (including backscatter) and QTC VIEW™ (Series IV) technologies, while the geotechnical survey entailed Van Veen grab sampling of surface sediments and associated analyses. The two acoustic technologies were consistent in their ability to identify distinct regions of seafloor characterized by rock outcrops, consolidated substrates, or gel-mud depositional fields. Both multibeam backscatter data and QTC VIEW™ number-coded classifications were extracted across a range of circular areas located at each georeferenced sampling station (radii: 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 16, 20 m). Statistical correlations were observed between backscatter and certain geotechnical properties, such as sediment porosity, sediment grain size fractions (<2 μm, silt content), and particulate sulfur concentration. The areal resolution of backscatter extraction was explored in terms of determining a sensitive calibration technique between backscatter and sediment properties. In general the highest r² values between backscatter and sediment variables were observed across extraction radii between 8 and 20 m. Such groundtruthing techniques could be used to interpolate seafloor characteristics between sampling stations and provide a steering tool for sampling designs associated with benthic monitoring programs.     

Geometric corrections on sidescan sonar images based on bathymetry. Application with SeaMARC II and Sea Beam data

Acoustic backscatter images of the seafloor obtained with sidescan sonar systems are displayed most often using a flat bottom assumption. Whenever this assumption is not valid, pixels are mapped incorrectly in the image frame, yielding distorted representations of the seafloor. Here, such distortions are corrected by using an appropriate representation of the relief, as measured by the sonar that collected the acoustic backscatter information. In addition, all spatial filtering operations required in the pixel relocation process take the sonar geometry into account. Examples of the process are provided by data collected in the Northeastern Pacific over Fieberling Guyot with the SeaMARC II bathymetric sidescan sonar system and the Sea Beam multibeam echo-sounder. The nearly complete (90%) Sea Beam bathymetry coverage of the Guyot serves as a reference to quantify the distortions found in the backscatter images and to evaluate the accuracy of the corrections performed with SeaMARC II bathymetry. As a byproduct, the processed SeaMARC II bathymetry and the Sea Beam bathymetry adapted to the SeaMARC II sonar geometry exhibit a 35m mean-square difference over the entire area surveyed.On leave at the Naval Research Laboratory, Code 7420, Washington D.C. 20375-5350.     

Processing Multibeam Backscatter Data

A new highly precise source of data has recently become available using multibeam sonar systems in hydrography. Multibeam sonar systems can provide hydrographic quality depth data as well as high-resolution seafloor sonar images. We utilize the seafloor backscatter strength data of each beam from multibeam sonar and the automatic classification technology so that we can get the seafloor type identification maps. In this article, analyzing all kinds of error effects in backscatter strength, data are based on the relationship between backscatter strength and seafloor types. We emphasize particularly analyzing the influences of local bottom slope and near nadir reflection in backscatter strength data. We also give the correction algorithms and results of these two influent factors. After processing the raw backscatter strength data and correcting error effects, we can get processed backscatter strength data which reflect the features of seafloor types only. Applying the processed backscatter strength data and mosaicked seafloor sonar images, we engage in seafloor classification and geomorphy interpretation in future research.     

Simultaneous operation of opposing reaction mechanisms: The influence of matrix heterogeneity on post-kinematic garnet crystallization in an inverted metamorphic sequence

Metapelites from the inverted Barrovian sequence in the Sikkim Himalaya (northeast India) are shown to be largely continuous with respect to their bulk rock compositions, microstructures and pressure–temperature–time–deformation (P–T–t–D) histories. However, the upper garnet–lower staurolite zone demarcates a region of microstructurally anomalous post-kinematic garnet populations contained within strongly segregated matrices. The different microstructures within samples from this region cannot be attributed to differences in their thermobarometric histories or bulk compositions, but are instead interpreted to represent an otherwise unexposed level of the Daling Group that is now exposed along a post-metamorphic thrust splay. These heterogeneous samples contain several discrete garnet populations that progressively crystallized with increasing P–T. Garnet populations that experienced the most protracted growth now form complex polycrystals that exhibit crystallographically controlled and morphologically irregular interfaces adjacent to micaceous and quartzofeldspathic domains respectively. Electron backscatter diffraction indicates that these polycrystalline garnet structures contain numerous coalesced porphyroblasts that are structurally uncorrelated across their grain boundaries. However, a crystallographically preferred orientation at the polycrystal scale is interpreted to derive from epitaxial crystallization of early-formed garnet porphyroblasts on precursor mica. Later-nucleated porphyroblasts within polycrystals preferentially concentrated towards quartzofeldspathic domains, with the overall nucleation distribution likely controlled by a complex interplay between chemical heterogeneities, strain partitioning and epitaxial crystallization. The subsequent growth of these polycrystals was equally spatially heterogeneous; it was moderated by differences in the efficiency of grain boundary transfer between quartzofeldspathic and micaceous domains that precluded thin section-scale chemical equilibration. In contrast to samples from Sikkim containing more typical porphyroblastic populations in continuous and disseminated matrices, heterogeneous availability of garnet-forming components within this strongly layered matrix is shown to have resulted in grain-scale variations in growth rates and the spatial juxtapositioning of interface-controlled microstructures and locally equilibrated chemical compositions with those that were transport controlled.