NICOP - Seabed Characterization Experiment

Abstract

The ONR is organizing the Seabed Characterization Experiment (SCE) in 2017. This ocean acoustics experiment will take place on the New England Mud patch, which is known for complex geology and oceanography. In particular, the first layer of the seabed is mainly composed of fine-grained sediments (i.e. mud). Because acoustic propagation is poorly understood into fine-grained sediments, it is important to understand the physics driving the seabed propagation (direct problem), to estimate the seabed properties and quantify uncertainties (inverse problem), and to assess performances of the proposed methods. The proposed project focuses on low frequencies (0-500 Hz) where propagation is conveniently described by modal theory. In this context, the acoustic field is interpreted as the sum of several modal components, with each mode propagating dispersively through an ocean waveguide. The main objectives of the projects are 1) developing new signal processing methods that would benefit the whole SCE group and 2) estimating the seabed properties, quantifying the uncertainty, and assessing performance of the proposed methods. More specifically, the project will develop signal processing methods allowing mode estimation when the source is an impulsive signal (task 1) or a narrowband signal (task 2). Estimated modes will subsequently be used to infer the mud geoacoustic parameters (task 3), and uncertainties will be quantified using Bayesian methodology.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Feb 03, 2017
Source ID
N629091712007

Entities

People

  • Julien Bonnel

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Bayesian Inference