Estimation of sediment compressional and shear properties in the New England Mud Patch using acoustic pressure and particle velocity data

Abstract

New England Mud Patch was the site of the Seabed Characterization Experiment in multiple years (2017, 2021, and 2022). This site is characterized by a layer of very fine grained surficial sediment layer over sand. Analysis of broadband data measured on the ocean bottom recorders (OBXs) and hydrophones will be discussed. OBX is a geophone–hydrophone system which measures three components (two orthogonal horizontal components and a vertical component) in addition to acoustic pressure. Five OBXs were deployed on the seabed and four hydrophones were configured as a tetrahedral array on the bottom mounted Geosled. Data from these sensors will be analyzed and different arrivals corresponding to compressional, shear and interface wave (Scholte and love waves) presence will be examined. Inversion schemes will be implemented to estimate the compressional and shear wave speeds and attenuation. A priori information from seismic surveys and sediment cores will be incorporated into the inversion schemes. Outputs of these inversions will be compared with inversion results from other investigators based on different inversion techniques and using data from the same location. [Work Supported by Office of Naval Research.]