3D seismic versus multibeam sonar sea-floor surface renderings for geohazard assessment; case examples from the central Scotian slope
3D seismic versus multibeam sonar sea-floor surface renderings for geohazard assessment; case examples from the central Scotian slope (in Geohazards and pore pressure prediction, Donald A. Herron (prefacer) and Colin M. Sayers (prefacer))
Leading Edge (Tulsa, OK) (December 2006) 25 (12): 1484-1494
- acoustical methods
- Atlantic Ocean
- bathymetry
- case studies
- elastic waves
- environmental management
- geologic hazards
- geophysical methods
- geophysical surveys
- imagery
- marine methods
- North Atlantic
- ocean floors
- offshore
- petroleum
- petroleum exploration
- reflection methods
- risk assessment
- Scotian Shelf
- Scotian Slope
- seismic methods
- slopes
- sonar methods
- submarine canyons
- surveys
- three-dimensional models
- traveltime
- Torbrook Block
- Weymouth Block
Detailed seafloor morphologic images can be rendered from the seafloor pick of 3D seismic data sets and from multibeam bathymetric sonar data. These data are frequently used in geohazard and environmental assessments to characterize the seafloor, interpret the geologic environment, and calculate parameters such as slope angle. In general, the accuracy and value of these quantitative assessments improve with higher resolution. In deepwater, the coverage of depth soundings by 3D seismic and multibeam sonar technologies are at a similar scale, yet the physical principles of operation of the two systems are distinctly different. The purpose of this study is to evaluate theoretical and practical aspects of the two data types, especially with respect to vertical and horizontal resolution and precision as they pertain to deepwater geohazard assessment.
