Acceleration-monitored coring revisited

Abstract

A measurement system is described for recording vertical accelerations of piston or gravity corers during penetration. The system consists of acceleration, tilt, and absolute pressure sensors. Double integration of the acceleration signal during the penetration time gives the maximum penetration depth of the core. This value, when compared with the total length of recovered core allows quantification of core compaction or core loss. The system was used successfully on 13 gravity and piston corers during RV Polarstern cruise XI/4 to Antarctica. In most cases the recovered core length is less than the total core penetration, with a maximum core compaction of 30%. A general increase of core compaction or core loss with core length can be observed.