Calibration of the R/V Langseth Seismic Sources

Columbia University, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

0624599 Tolstoy This 2-year award to Columbia University in the City of New York provides support to conduct seismic sound source characterization studies at three sites in the Gulf of Mexico on R/V Marcus G. Langseth, a research vessel operated by the university's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) as part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) research fleet. Source characterization will be undertaken in shallow, deep and intermediate water depths, and will include measurement of environmental parameters (water column and sediment sound velocity and related properties) in addition to direct measurement of signal levels at various ranges and azimuths. Source configurations will include individual sources and various sub-arrays as well as the full R/V Langseth source array, and will be recorded on bottom-moored and surface-drifting calibrated hydrophones in addition to the hydrophones in the seismic streamer normally used for seismic reflection studies. Acoustic propagation modeling will be carried out before and after the field measurements in an effort to evaluate, validate and/or improve existing models. Results of the source characterization are expected to be used to support efforts to refine mitigation practices for compliance with environmental regulations related to anthropogenic sound as well as to improve understanding of the source characteristics of the seismic sources on R/V Langseth for application to geophysical research. ***