Seabed characterization through a range of high-resolution acoustic systems – a case study offshore Oman |
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Authors: | Magdalena Szuman Christian Berndt Colin Jacobs Angus Best |
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Institution: | (1) Challenger Division for Seafloor Processes, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, SO14 3ZH Southampton, UK;(2) Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, Kings College, AB24 3UE Aberdeen, UK |
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Abstract: | This study uses three acoustic instruments (different in their operating frequencies, 13, 3.5, and 6–10 kHz, and deployment
type, hull-mounted, surface-towed and deep-towed) to investigate and characterize the acoustic response of seafloor NE of
Oman in a frequency-independent manner. High-resolution control was achieved by having selected areas of our acoustic transects
ground-truthed by sampling and/or sea-floor photography. On the regional scale, the greatest degree of change in backscatter
amplitude was correlated with major changes of seabed morphology and lithology. However, small-scale roughness had the biggest
effect on amplitude on the local scale, i.e. within each area of specific seafloor type. The study also shows that seafloor
reflection amplitude changes are far more easily detected by deep-towed instrument than by surface-towed or hull-mounted systems.
Whilst there are significant changes in bioturbation types and density along the transects, the suite of instruments deployed
was not able to pick up the effect of the bioturbation on acoustic signals. |
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Keywords: | 3 5 kHz sediment profiler acoustic characterization backscatter bioturbation deep-tow CHIRP EM12 multibeam Oman |
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