Optics, Acoustics, and Stress in a Nearshore Bottom Nepheloid Layer
Abstract
In this Final Report on this Office of Naval Research contract, we demonstrate the successful completion of all proposed tasks. We have participated in a series of observational studies at the Woods Hole Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory where we collected high-quality physical, acoustical and optical data. The data has been processed demonstrating the close link between resuspension dynamics, particle aggregation and settling. Results indicate that contrary to existing models and interpretation, and based on theoretical, lab and field measurements, optical properties can predict suspended mass quite accurately due to the process of aggregation. Contrary to optical data, we find high frequency acoustics backscattering to be sensitive to aggregation suggesting that the ratio of acoustical to optical backscattering could provide a sensitive proxy to the degree of packaging of the suspended mass. Insight from this work will be applied shortly into an aggregation module in the community sediment transport model.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA540959
Entities
People
- Emmanuel S. Boss
- John H. Trowbridge
- Paul S. Hill
- Timothy G. Milligan
Organizations
- University of Maine