Improved Interpretation of Marine Sedimentary Environments Using Multi-Frequency Multibeam Backscatter Data

Backscatter mosaics based on a multi-frequency multibeam echosounder survey in the continental shelf setting of the North Sea were compared. The uncalibrated backscatter data were recorded with frequencies of 200, 400 and 600 kHz. The results showed that the seafloor appears mostly featureless in ac...

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Main Authors: Peter Feldens, Inken Schulze, Svenja Papenmeier, Mischa Schönke, Jens Schneider von Deimling
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-06-01
Series:Geosciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/8/6/214
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spelling doaj-51e1cb6b10ce438c848085c6fc0bbba82020-11-24T23:44:02ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632018-06-018621410.3390/geosciences8060214geosciences8060214Improved Interpretation of Marine Sedimentary Environments Using Multi-Frequency Multibeam Backscatter DataPeter Feldens0Inken Schulze1Svenja Papenmeier2Mischa Schönke3Jens Schneider von Deimling4Marine Geology, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, 18119 Rostock, GermanyMarine Geology, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, 18119 Rostock, GermanyAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Wadden Sea Research Station, 25992 List/Sylt, GermanyMarine Geology, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, 18119 Rostock, GermanyInstitute of Geosciences, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24118 Kiel, GermanyBackscatter mosaics based on a multi-frequency multibeam echosounder survey in the continental shelf setting of the North Sea were compared. The uncalibrated backscatter data were recorded with frequencies of 200, 400 and 600 kHz. The results showed that the seafloor appears mostly featureless in acoustic backscatter mosaics derived from 600 kHz data. The same area surveyed with 200 kHz reveals numerous backscatter anomalies with diameters of 10–70 m deviating between −2 dB and +4 dB from the background sediment. Backscatter anomalies were further subdivided based on their frequency-specific texture and were attributed to bioturbation within the sediment and the presence of polychaetes on the seafloor. While low frequencies show the highest overall contrast between different seafloor types, a consideration of all frequencies permits an improved interpretation of subtle seafloor features.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/8/6/214multibeam echosounderbackscattermulti-frequencybenthic habitatsNorth Sea
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Peter Feldens
Inken Schulze
Svenja Papenmeier
Mischa Schönke
Jens Schneider von Deimling
spellingShingle Peter Feldens
Inken Schulze
Svenja Papenmeier
Mischa Schönke
Jens Schneider von Deimling
Improved Interpretation of Marine Sedimentary Environments Using Multi-Frequency Multibeam Backscatter Data
Geosciences
multibeam echosounder
backscatter
multi-frequency
benthic habitats
North Sea
author_facet Peter Feldens
Inken Schulze
Svenja Papenmeier
Mischa Schönke
Jens Schneider von Deimling
author_sort Peter Feldens
title Improved Interpretation of Marine Sedimentary Environments Using Multi-Frequency Multibeam Backscatter Data
title_short Improved Interpretation of Marine Sedimentary Environments Using Multi-Frequency Multibeam Backscatter Data
title_full Improved Interpretation of Marine Sedimentary Environments Using Multi-Frequency Multibeam Backscatter Data
title_fullStr Improved Interpretation of Marine Sedimentary Environments Using Multi-Frequency Multibeam Backscatter Data
title_full_unstemmed Improved Interpretation of Marine Sedimentary Environments Using Multi-Frequency Multibeam Backscatter Data
title_sort improved interpretation of marine sedimentary environments using multi-frequency multibeam backscatter data
publisher MDPI AG
series Geosciences
issn 2076-3263
publishDate 2018-06-01
description Backscatter mosaics based on a multi-frequency multibeam echosounder survey in the continental shelf setting of the North Sea were compared. The uncalibrated backscatter data were recorded with frequencies of 200, 400 and 600 kHz. The results showed that the seafloor appears mostly featureless in acoustic backscatter mosaics derived from 600 kHz data. The same area surveyed with 200 kHz reveals numerous backscatter anomalies with diameters of 10–70 m deviating between −2 dB and +4 dB from the background sediment. Backscatter anomalies were further subdivided based on their frequency-specific texture and were attributed to bioturbation within the sediment and the presence of polychaetes on the seafloor. While low frequencies show the highest overall contrast between different seafloor types, a consideration of all frequencies permits an improved interpretation of subtle seafloor features.
topic multibeam echosounder
backscatter
multi-frequency
benthic habitats
North Sea
url http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/8/6/214
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