Bayesian geoacoustic inversion of seabed reflection data at the New England mud patch

Abstract

This paper presents nonlinear Bayesian inversion of wide-angle seabed reflection-coefficient data for fine-grained/cohesive sediments recorded in the ONR Seabed Characterization Experiment at the New England mud patch. In particular, the inversion is applied to high-resolution broadband reflectivity data from a site with a ∼11-m thick mud layer. Trans-dimensional inversion, sampling over an unknown number of seabed layers, and spherical-wave reflection modeling are employed. The inversion provides maximum a posteriori parameter estimates with uncertainties quantified in terms of marginal posterior probability profiles for sound speed, density, and attenuation as a function of depth in the sediment. [The research was funded by the Office of Naval Research, Ocean Acoustics Program, and the Canadian Department of National Defence.]