Targeted Full-Waveform Inversion of Ground-Penetrating Radar Data for Quantification of Oil Spills under Sea Ice

Abstract

Summary We have implemented a targeted ground-penetrating radar (GPR) full-waveform inversion algorithm to quantify the physical characteristics of oil spills under and within sea-ice. We can invert for oil thickness, electric permittivity, and conductivity or any subset of these parameters if the others are known. We tested the algorithm with data collected during a controlled spill experiment at the US Army's Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab (CRREL). Using 500 MHz radar reflection data, the algorithm recovered the thickness of a 5 cm thick oil layer to within 8% of the control value. This approach provides a tool for rapid spill detection and mapping that is needed with increasing levels of oil exploration and production in the Arctic environment.