Distribution and influencing factors of acoustic characteristics of seafloor sediment in the Sunda Shelf

• Published in: Journal of oceanology and limnology Vol. 42; no. 5; pp. 1486 - 1492
• Main Authors: Hou, Zhengyu, Tang, Danling, Liu, Jianguo, Li, Zhenglin, Xiao, Peng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Science Press 01.09.2024; Springer Nature B.V; School of Ocean Engineering and Technology,Sun Yat-sen University & Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai),Zhuhai 519000,China; Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Observation of Polar Environment(Sun Yat-sen University),Ministry of Education,Zhuhai 519082,China%Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Guangzhou)& South China Sea Institute of Oceanology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Guangzhou 511458,China
• Subjects: Acoustics; Bulk density; Bulk sampling; continental shelf; Continental shelves; Cores; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; hydrodynamics; Ocean engineering; Ocean floor; Oceanography; Offshore engineering; Physical properties; Piston corers; Porosity; Research Paper; Sediment; Sediment movement; Sediments; Shear strength; Sound; Sound velocity; topography; Wet bulk density; seafloor sediment; acoustic property; Sunda Shelf
• ISSN: 2096-5508; 2523-3521
• DOI: 10.1007/s00343-024-3120-2

To understand the acoustic and physical properties of piston core samples collected from the Sunda continental shelf and analyze their distribution patterns, the samples were analyzed in laboratory, from which three provinces were divided in sound speed, sound speed ratio, porosity, wet bulk density, and maximum shear strength. Province I had lower sound speed and sound speed ratio (<1.04), high porosity, and low wet bulk density. Province II had higher sound speed and sound speed ratio (>1.04), low porosity, and high wet bulk density. Province III had the lowest sound speed and sound speed ratio (0.99), highest porosity (81%), and lowest wet bulk density (1.34 g/cm 3 ). The distribution pattern indicates that sediment movement, sediment source, topography, and hydrodynamic conditions influenced the distribution of acoustic and physical properties. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship of the maximum shear strength to the porosity and wet bulk density, and found that the maximum shear strength was proportional to both the porosity and wet bulk density. This finding has significant implications for ocean engineering applications.