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ACOUSTIC TECHNIQUES FOR THE MAPPING OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS
Citation:
Caulfield, D. D. AND J C. Filkins. ACOUSTIC TECHNIQUES FOR THE MAPPING OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS. NORTHEASTERN GEOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 21:130-135, (1999).
Description:
An overview of the last 30 years of analytical research into the acoustic properties of harbor marine sediments has allowed the extension of the original work of Hamilton (1970) into a production system for classifying the density and bulk physical properties of standard marine sediments (gas and pollution free). This system relates the acoustic variables of reflection coefficient, absorption, and sound velocity to the physical properties of the bottom, bulk density, grain size, and porosity. This system allowed the development of acquisition quality assurance procedures. The resultant precision of data based on these procedures enabled the examination and the development of acoustic deviation models to explore anomalies in shallow subbottom data from contaminated areas. A three-year program was undertaken with USEPA-Large Lakes Research Station to gather acoustic data at a test site where detailed chemical and physical data were available to verify this model concept.
The combining of intelligent core placement and micro-spaced acoustic survey lines allowed derivation of the acoustic properties of the bottom sediments for the size. Initial results indicated that the deviations in acoustic properties from normal sediments were found to be related to gross gas and contaminant content of these sediments. The initial analytical models are presented with illustrations of the use of this technique for contaminated sediment mapping.