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Underwater Acoustics and the Ocean Environment
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Underwater Acoustics and the Ocean Environment

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2016) | Viewed by 36347

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jens Martin Hovem

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
Interests: underwater acoustics in general; propagation modeling; sonar engineering; seafloor acoustics; oceanic noise; signal processing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Underwater acoustics play important roles in many aspects of ocean science and technology because they are the only means of transmitting information over long distances in the ocean. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in exploring ocean resources; this has resulted in new needs and applications for advanced acoustic devices and equipment. However, there is concern about the effects of increased anthropogenic acoustic noise in the oceans, which result from the use of underwater high intensity sound, increased shipping, and new offshore activities, such as from the piling related to underwater construction and seismic exploration through the use of airguns.

This Special Issue aims to provide a compilation of the current state-of-the art of underwater acoustics for ocean exploration, and also addresses the adverse consequences of anthropogenic underwater noise on the marine life and the ocean environment in general.

The relevant topics are:

  • Acoustic remote sensing of ocean currents, sea temperature, etc.
  • Acoustic characterization of the seafloor and marine habitats
  • Communication; wireless underwater data transfer and navigation
  • Acoustic modeling and verification
  • Marine biology, survey for fish and plankton
  • Enabling techniques and technologies relevant to the above applications
  • Impact of anthropogenic noise on marine life in general (e.g., on sea mammals, fish, and fishing).

Prof. Dr. Jens Martin Hovem
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.


Keywords

  • Acoustic remote sensing
  • Ocean modeling and inversion
  • Fishery acoustics
  • Marine habitats
  • Noise pollution
  • Communication, navigation, and positioning

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

2684 KiB  
Article
Perspectives on Geoacoustic Inversion of Ocean Bottom Reflectivity Data
by N. Ross Chapman
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2016, 4(3), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse4030061 - 14 Sep 2016
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5104
Abstract
This paper focuses on acoustic reflectivity of the ocean bottom, and describes inversion of reflection data from an experiment designed to study the physical properties and structure of the ocean bottom. The formalism of Bayesian inference is reviewed briefly to establish an understanding [...] Read more.
This paper focuses on acoustic reflectivity of the ocean bottom, and describes inversion of reflection data from an experiment designed to study the physical properties and structure of the ocean bottom. The formalism of Bayesian inference is reviewed briefly to establish an understanding of the approach for inversion that is in widespread use. A Bayesian inversion of ocean bottom reflection coefficient versus angle data to estimate geoacoustic model parameters of young oceanic crust is presented. The data were obtained in an experiment to study the variation of sound speed in crustal basalt with age of the crust at deep water sites in the Pacific Ocean where the sediment deposits overlying the basalt are very thin. The inversion results show that sound speed of both compressional and shear waves is increasing with crustal age over the track of the experiment where age increased from 40 to 70 million years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Underwater Acoustics and the Ocean Environment)
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3240 KiB  
Article
Modeling Water Motion near Seismic Waves Propagating across a Graded Seabed, as Generated by Man-Made Impacts
by Richard A. Hazelwood and Patrick C. Macey
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2016, 4(3), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse4030047 - 13 Aug 2016
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6318
Abstract
Seismic interface waves generated by seabed impacts are believed to have biological importance. Various wave types are of interest to seismologists, who can minimize the unwanted, but often dominant, ground roll waves with suitable instrumentation. Waves made by dredging and piling have been [...] Read more.
Seismic interface waves generated by seabed impacts are believed to have biological importance. Various wave types are of interest to seismologists, who can minimize the unwanted, but often dominant, ground roll waves with suitable instrumentation. Waves made by dredging and piling have been measured using geophones and found to be of this interface type, which propagate much more slowly than the pressure waves in the water column above. Short interface wavelets of a few cycles were modeled using transient finite element analysis (FEA). Wavelets with low losses have been modeled using graded sediment data from the literature. They do not radiate energy away from the interface because the evanescent acoustic pressures they generate decay rapidly with distance from the seabed. Associated water particle velocities are much greater than would be expected from similar acoustic pressure measurements in a free field. This motion is significant to aquatic life which is dependent on inertial sensors (otoliths, etc.) to respond to the environment. Additional amplification of the horizontal seabed motion of the adjacent water is predicted for a short seismic wavelet modeled in a graded solid seabed. Further recent analysis studied the distribution of the energy flux within the sediment layers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Underwater Acoustics and the Ocean Environment)
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4401 KiB  
Article
Structure-Borne Wave Radiation by Impact and Vibratory Piling in Offshore Installations: From Sound Prediction to Auditory Damage
by Apostolos Tsouvalas and Andrei V. Metrikine
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2016, 4(3), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse4030044 - 1 Aug 2016
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6836
Abstract
Anthropogenic noise emission in the marine environment is a key issue nowadays and has drawn the attention of regulatory bodies in various nations. In particular, the noise generated during the installation of foundation piles for the offshore wind industry is considered to be [...] Read more.
Anthropogenic noise emission in the marine environment is a key issue nowadays and has drawn the attention of regulatory bodies in various nations. In particular, the noise generated during the installation of foundation piles for the offshore wind industry is considered to be harmful for aquatic species. A reliable prediction of the underwater noise during the installation of a foundation pile is thus essential for the proper assessment of the ecological impact. In this paper, the structure-borne wave radiation is investigated with the help of a semi-analytical model for two cases. The first case considers a pile that is installed with the help of an impact hammer, whereas the second one deals with a pile that is driven into the seabed with the help of a vibratory device. The spatial distribution and the frequency content of the radiated sound are analyzed, and the differences are highlighted between the two cases. The model is validated with data available in the literature that were collected during several measurement campaigns. Subsequently, the predicted noise levels are converted into an equivalent index that reflects the auditory damage to certain marine species, and a method is presented for the derivation of zones of impact around the pile that are based on the noise predictions by the models and the chosen method of installation. This approach can be used to define critical zones within which a predefined level of auditory damage is to be expected based on a specific installation scenario. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Underwater Acoustics and the Ocean Environment)
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311 KiB  
Article
Power-Budget Equations and Calibration Factors for Fish Abundance Estimation Using Scientific Echo Sounder and Sonar Systems
by Per Lunde and Rolf J. Korneliussen
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2016, 4(3), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse4030043 - 9 Jul 2016
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4573
Abstract
Acoustic methods used in fish abundance estimation constitute a key part of the analytic assessment that makes the basis for abundance estimation of marine resources. The methods rely on power-budget equations and calibrated systems. Different formulations of power-budget equations and calibration factors have [...] Read more.
Acoustic methods used in fish abundance estimation constitute a key part of the analytic assessment that makes the basis for abundance estimation of marine resources. The methods rely on power-budget equations and calibrated systems. Different formulations of power-budget equations and calibration factors have been proposed for use in scientific echo sounder and sonar systems. There are unresolved questions and apparent inconsistencies in prior literature related to this field. A generic (instrument independent) and unifying theory is presented that attempts to explain the different power-budget and calibration factor formulations proposed and used in prior literature, and how these are mutually related. Deviations and apparent inconsistencies in this literature appear to be explained and corrected. This also includes different (instrument specific) formulations employed in important modern scientific echo sounder systems, and their relationship to the generic theory of abundance estimation. Prior literature is extended to provide more complete power-budget equations for fish abundance estimation and species identification, by accounting for echo integration, electrical termination, and the full range of electrical and acoustical echo sounder parameters. The expressions provide a consistent theoretical basis for improved understanding of conventional methods and instruments used today, also enabling improved sensitivity and error analyses, and correction possibilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Underwater Acoustics and the Ocean Environment)
5614 KiB  
Article
On the Sediment Dynamics in a Tidally Energetic Channel: The Inner Sound, Northern Scotland
by Jason McIlvenny, Duncan Tamsett, Philip Gillibrand and Lonneke Goddijn-Murphy
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2016, 4(2), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse4020031 - 8 Apr 2016
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5554
Abstract
Sediment banks within a fast-flowing tidal channel, the Inner Sound in the Pentland Firth, were mapped using multi-frequency side-scan sonar. This novel technique provides a new tool for seabed sediment and benthic habitat mapping. The sonar data are supplemented by sediment grab and [...] Read more.
Sediment banks within a fast-flowing tidal channel, the Inner Sound in the Pentland Firth, were mapped using multi-frequency side-scan sonar. This novel technique provides a new tool for seabed sediment and benthic habitat mapping. The sonar data are supplemented by sediment grab and ROV videos. The combined data provide detailed maps of persistent sand and shell banks present in the Sound despite the high energy environment. Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) data and numerical model predictions were used to understand the hydrodynamics of the system. By combining the hydrodynamics and sediment distribution data, we explain the sediment dynamics in the area. Sediment particle shape and density, coupled with persistent features of the hydrodynamics, are the key factors in the distribution of sediment within the channel. Implications for tidal energy development planned for the Sound are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Underwater Acoustics and the Ocean Environment)
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9787 KiB  
Article
Colour Sonar: Multi-Frequency Sidescan Sonar Images of the Seabed in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, Scotland
by Duncan Tamsett, Jason McIlvenny and Andrew Watts
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2016, 4(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse4010026 - 17 Mar 2016
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6650
Abstract
The backscatter response of a seabed to an incident sonar signal is dependent on the carrier wave frequency: i.e., the seabed is acoustically colourful. Colour is implemented in a prototype three-frequency sidescan sonar system deployed in the Pentland Firth, north Scotland. Sonar [...] Read more.
The backscatter response of a seabed to an incident sonar signal is dependent on the carrier wave frequency: i.e., the seabed is acoustically colourful. Colour is implemented in a prototype three-frequency sidescan sonar system deployed in the Pentland Firth, north Scotland. Sonar amplitude data as a function of frequency are processed to render them an unconfounded effect of the seabed normalized to the response at a reference inclination angle, for colour to be a meaningful property of the seabed. Methods for mapping data at sonar frequencies to optical primary colours for human visualisation are explored. We recommend methods that in our opinion generate colour characteristics harmonious with human vision in which: shadow is white; saturation black; colour shade darkness is proportional to backscatter strength; and shades of red, green and blue are seen in proportion to the backscatter amplitudes of the low-, mid- and high-frequency sonar data. Frequency equalisation is applied to achieve a balance in colour responses in images. The seabed in the survey area is acoustically colourful. Using the “negative BGR” colour mapping method: a weakly backscattering sand dune in the north of the survey area appears as shades of light blue and purple; a strongly backscattering halo of cobbles around the dune appears as shades of hazel brown; a strongly backscattering gravel ridge across the south of the survey area appears as shades of royal blue; and exposed rock as textures ranging in colour from light brown to light blue/green. There is evidence for colour anisotropy (a dependence of colour on the direction of ensonification). Similarities between anthropic colour sonar and the natural sonar of Microchiropteran bats are noted. Bats’ sonar satisfies the information criteria for acoustic colour, and it is hypothesized that it informs a colourfully-perceived world view. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Underwater Acoustics and the Ocean Environment)
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