Bathymetry and Bottom Electrical Properties from an Airborne Electromagnetic Survey at Kings Bay Georgia
Abstract
The Naval Research Laboratory deployed an advanced airborne electromagnetic (AEM) hydrographic system over the Kings Bay entrance channel to chart water depths and map variations in sea floor sediments. The survey consisted of three helicopter flights and resulted in the acquisition of high quality data that had the same area coverage as two high density acoustic surveys. In addition, water temperature and conductivity measurements were acquired over the tidal cycle and along the surveyed channel. These data sets provided the ideal information to evaluate the capabilities of the AEM technology. The interpretation of the AEM survey indicated that the inferred water conductivities agreed with in-situ measurements to an accuracy of 0.1 Siemens/meter. The average water depths provided by the AEM system along the 5300 foot survey lines deviated from the acoustic data by less than two feet. Seafloor conductivities were spatially coherent and provided realistic formation factors ranging from 3.2-9.5 that should correspond to variations in bottom material ranging from a clean consolidated sand to a poorly consolidated clay or silt.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 04, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA393124
Entities
People
- Ed Mozley
- Will Avera
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory