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Acoustic profiling of suspended sediments in the marine bottom boundary layer
Author(s) -
Young Robert A.,
Merrill John T.,
Clarke Thomas L.,
Proni John R.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl009i003p00175
Subject(s) - profilometer , quartz , boundary layer , geology , sediment , mineralogy , erosion , calibration curve , geomorphology , mechanics , materials science , surface finish , composite material , chemistry , physics , paleontology , chromatography , detection limit
An acoustic (3 MHz) backscattering profilometer has been developed for study of sediment transport in the bottom boundary layer. Laboratory experiments indicate reasonable correlations between backscattering intensity and mass concentrations for well‐sorted fine to coarse quartz sands typical of those found in marine sediments. Departure of the calibration curves from their expected values is thought to be due to the non‐spherical shape of the quartz grains. Field experiments on the inner shelf using the profilometer combined with velocity profiles show individual profiles (taken at 1 Hz) during erosion events are characterized by highly variable concentrations. Surface wave groups rather than individual waves appear to be correlated with groups of profiles with high concentrations extending 25‐100 cm above bottom. Averaging produces smooth profiles which fit well log‐normal distributions predicted by steady flow suspended load theories.