Environmental characterization using airgun seismic sources

Abstract

Seismic surveys using arrays of airguns are a ubiquitous feature of the ocean ambient sound environment. An approach is presented to use airguns as a sound source to study how physical oceanographic variability shapes long range acoustic propagation. Signal processing and data analysis tools are presented to allow opportunistic use of commercial seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) for environmental characterization. Airgun propagation data are analyzed and compared to models generated from conventional physical oceanographic data collection for large scale features such as the Loop Current.Seismic surveys using arrays of airguns are a ubiquitous feature of the ocean ambient sound environment. An approach is presented to use airguns as a sound source to study how physical oceanographic variability shapes long range acoustic propagation. Signal processing and data analysis tools are presented to allow opportunistic use of commercial seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) for environmental characterization. Airgun propagation data are analyzed and compared to models generated from conventional physical oceanographic data collection for large scale features such as the Loop Current.