Seabed properties at the 150 m isobath as observed during the 2016-2017 Canada Basin Acoustic Propagation Experiment

Abstract

Seabed layering and sediment properties impact sound propagation in ocean waveguides, particularly in environments where sound propagation paths repeatedly interact with the seafloor. As part of the 2016–2017 Canada Basin Acoustic Propagation Experiment (CANAPE), experiments were designed to investigate seabed layering and sediment properties on the Chukchi Shelf. First, the shallow water experimental region was surveyed with a subbottom profiler to provide information about the overall sediment layering. Second, ship-radiated noise from a research vessel sailing specifically designed tracks was received on the Persistent Acoustic Observation System (PECOS). These recordings provide an opportunity for short- to mid-range geoacoustic inversion for sediment properties. Third, in-situ acoustic sound speed measurements were made with the Acoustic Coring System (ACS) while two to five meter long core samples were simultaneously collected. This talk presents initial findings of the seabed layering and sediment properties from these three experiments.