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You are here: Home / Library / RBINS Staff Publications / Influence of shells and shell debris on backscatter strength: investigation using modeling, sonar measurements and sampling on the Belgian Continental Shelf

Sonia Papili, Chris Jenkins, Marc Roche, Thomas Wever, Olga Lopera, and Vera Van Lancker (2015)

Influence of shells and shell debris on backscatter strength: investigation using modeling, sonar measurements and sampling on the Belgian Continental Shelf

In: Seabed and Sediment Acoustics: Measurements and Modelling, ed. by Blondel et al., vol. 37(1), pp. 304-310, University of Bath, Bath, Institute of Acoustics. Proceedings of the Institute of Acoustics.

Acoustic interaction theory and observation highlight the strong relation between the acoustic signal responses and the physical and biological processes acting on the seafloor and in the water column. Several descriptors such as sediment texture, porosity and surface roughness are identified as the main factors affecting the acoustic reverberation and backscatter signals. Shells can influence if not dominate the scattering on the seafloor(Jackson et al., 1986; Stanic et al., 1989 and Zhang, 1996). Scattering from both inclusions and partially buried shells on the sea-floor is described by Stanton (2000), and scattering from shells as a potential mechanism explaining the scattering above 200 kHz is highlighted by Ivakin (2009). In order to improve the knowledge on this matter, several institutions with different expertise are cooperating to integrate mathematical modeling and experimental results to better quantify the influence of shells and shell debris on the acoustic signal and scattering of sonar images. Mathematical 3D models of shell objects in a sediment matrix will be used to simulate the influence of the shells on acoustic signal and scattering. The physical arrangements of shells and their spatio-temporal population trends are also considered in the modeling. The models will be supported by direct sonar measurements of seafloor areas on the Belgian Continental Shelf, combined with sampling, visual observations, classification and shape analysis of the shells and shell debris.
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