Open AccessFlare imaging with multibeam systems: Data processing for bubble detection at seeps
Author(s) -
Schneider von Deimling J.,
Brockhoff J.,
Greinert J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.928
H-Index - 136
ISSN - 1525-2027
DOI - 10.1029/2007gc001577
Subject(s) - geology , mooring , buoy , water column , remote sensing , bathymetry , flare , sonar , underwater , column (typography) , seismology , oceanography , computer science , telecommunications , aerospace engineering , frame (networking) , engineering
Multibeam sonar surveys have been conducted since their invention in the 1970s; however, mainly reflections from the seafloor were considered so far. More recently, water column imaging with multibeam is becoming of increasing interest for fisheries, buoy, mooring, or gas detection in the water column. Using ELAC SEABEAM 1000 data, we propose a technique to detect gas bubbles (flares) although this system is originally not designed to record water column data. The described data processing represents a case study and can be easily adapted to other multibeam systems. Multibeam data sets from the Black Sea and the North Sea show reflections of gas bubbles that form flares in the water column. At least for reasonably intense gas escape the detection of bubbles is feasible. The multibeam technique yields exact determination of the source position and information about the dimension of the gas cloud in the water. Compared to conventional flare imaging by single‐beam echo sounders, the wide swath angle of multibeam systems allows the mapping of large areas in much shorter time.