MURI Abyssal boundary layers high-resolution, interdisciplinary observations and theory
Abstract
Navy-relevant seafloor activities including deep sea mining, seafloor cable and acoustic array installation and security, mine detection and UUV operations all require detailed knowledge of the sediment load and dynamics near the seafloor. This in turn is linkedto the physical processes in the bottom boundary layer, an intrinsically multi-scale and turbulent environment, as well as to properties of the living and non-living portions of the seafloor stratum: the biology (e.g. fauna assays) and the sediment (e.g. grain size distribution, porosity and permeability). We have assembled a team spanning all of these areas, all of whom have expertise working in the deep sea, in order to examine each of these aspects of the problem. In this project we aim to use cutting-edge abyssal direct observing and remote sensing techniques including dense thermistor moorings, dye releases, acoustic reflection and scattering measurements, direct turbulence measuring autonomous floats, direct measurements of sediment load, particle size and settling velocity distribution, and bioacoustics in order to synthesize a complete interdisciplinary picture of the deep sea benthic boundary layer.Postdocs and students supported under the proposed effort will become the backbone and workforce of future DoD research.This abstract is publicly releasable.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 09, 2024
- Source ID
- N000142412567
Entities
People
- Matthew H. Alford
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, San Diego