Acoustic properties of macrophytes: Comparison of single-beam and multibeam imaging with modeling results

Macrophytes are an important part of marine habitats, as primary producers and shelter for marine life. Some species, like Laminaria digitata, have acoustic properties very close to water, in terms of density and impedance, but their imaging is possible using high frequencies. This paper focuses on the comparison of multibeam and single-beam measurements of macrophytobenthos in Arctic, using Biosonics DTX (420-kHz frequency) single-beam and Imagenex Delta-T 837 imager (260-kHz frequency). This comparison investigates the role of angular response for bottoms covered by macroalgae, supplementing these field results with measurements of macrophytes suspended in the Arctic water column (i.e. without bottom influence). Detailed measurements of the morphology of dominant, Arctic seaweed species were taken to specify their acoustic properties. Data about mean leaf size, body density and undulations or roughness of macroalgae thallus surface were collected for Laminaria digitata and Saccharina latissima. It helps to estimate how much of the acoustic energy is reflected, absorbed and scattered by the seaweed layer and how much bottom substrata influence this process

Spatial and Temporal Changes of Tidal Inlet Using Object-Based Image Analysis of Multibeam Echosounder Measurements: A Case from the Lagoon of Venice, Italy

Scientific exploration of seabed substrata has significantly progressed in the last few years. Hydroacoustic methods of seafloor investigation, including multibeam echosounder measurements, allow us to map large areas of the seabed with unprecedented precision. Through time-series of hydroacoustic measurements, it was possible to determine areas with distinct characteristics in the inlets of the Lagoon of Venice, Italy. Their temporal variability was investigated. Monitoring the changes was particularly relevant, considering the presence at the channel inlets of mobile barriers of the Experimental Electromechanical Module (MoSE) project installed to protect the historical city of Venice from flooding. The detection of temporal and spatial changes was performed by comparing seafloor maps created using object-based image analysis and supervised classifiers. The analysis included extraction of 25 multibeam echosounder bathymetry and backscatter features. Their importance was estimated using an objective approach with two feature selection methods. Moreover, the study investigated how the accuracy of classification could be affected by the scale of object-based segmentation. The application of the classification method at the proper scale allowed us to observe habitat changes in the tidal inlet of the Venice Lagoon, showing that the sediment substrates located in the Chioggia inlet were subjected to very dynamic changes. In general, during the study period, the area was enriched in mixed and muddy sediments and was depleted in sandy deposits. This study presents a unique methodological approach to predictive seabed sediment composition mapping and change detection in a very shallow marine environment. A consistent, repeatable, logical site-specific workflow was designed, whose main assumptions could be applied to other seabed mapping case studies in both shallow and deep marine environments, all over the world

Spectral and statistical analyses of ambient noise in Spitsvergen Fjords and identification of glacier calving events

Calving of glaciers generates sound audible underwater, useful in studying glacier processes and ice floes dynamics. Measurements of underwater ambient noise were carried out in two completely different Spitsbergen fjords - Hornsund, surrounded by melting glaciers, and Murchison, devoid of glaciers but full of floating ice floes, at frequencies from 20 Hz to 24 kHz using an omnidirectional hydrophone deployed at 18 meters deep. Calm weather during the experiments enabled measurements without noise coming from wind, rain or breaking waves. Statistical and spectral analyses of its variations were used to identify calving events and phenomena associated with the dynamics of ice floes. We hypothesise that, at low frequencies, the probability density distribution of the noise significantly differs from the normal distribution and gives clues about the number and diversity of contributing sources. Goodness-of-fit tests were performed across all frequency bands, and their results showed central-limit behavior in a high frequency range (>2.5 kHz). For low frequencies (below 1 kHz), the histograms of instantaneous noise spectrum level averaged over 1-minute intervals were compared to the theoretical Gaussian distribution, whose 0.9th quantile was determined as a threshold value in order to distinguish high energy spectral components of non-Gaussian origin (long-tail part of distribution)

Underwater acoustic signatures of glacier calving

Climate-driven ice-water interactions in the contact zone between marine-terminating glaciers and the ocean surface show a dynamic and complex nature. Tidewater glaciers lose volume through the poorly understood process of calving. A detailed description of the mechanisms controlling the course of calving is essential for the reliable estimation and prediction of mass loss from glaciers. Here we present the potential of hydroacoustic methods to investigate different modes of ice detachments. High-frequency underwater ambient noise recordings are combinedwith synchronized, high-resolution, time-lapse photography of the Hans Glacier cliff in Hornsund Fjord, Spitsbergen, to identify three types of calving events: typical subaerial, sliding subaerial, and submarine. A quantitative analysis of the data reveals a robust correlation between ice impact energy and acoustic emission at frequencies below 200 Hz for subaerial calving. We suggest that relatively inexpensive acoustic methods can be successfully used to provide quantitative descriptions of the various calving types

Microphytobenthos of Arctic Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Norway): biomass and potential primary production along the shore line

During summer 2007, Arctic microphytobenthic potential primary production was measured at several stations around the coastline of Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Norway) at ?5 m water depth and at two stations at five different water depths (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 m). Oxygen planar optode sensor spots were used ex situ to determine oxygen exchange in the overlying water of intact sediment cores under controlled light (ca. 100 ?mol photons m?2 s?1) and temperature (2–4°C) conditions. Patches of microalgae (mainly diatoms) covering sandy sediments at water depths down to 30 m showed high biomass of up to 317 mg chl a m?2. In spite of increasing water depth, no significant trend in “photoautotrophic active biomass” (chl a, ratio living/dead cells, cell sizes) and, thus, in primary production was measured at both stations. All sites from ?5 to 30 m water depth exhibited variable rates of net production from ?19 to +40 mg O2 m?2 h?1 (?168 to +360 mg C m?2 day?1) and gross production of about 2–62 mg O2 m?2 h?1 (17–554 mg C m?2 day?1), which is comparable to other polar as well as temperate regions. No relation between photoautotrophic biomass and gross/net production values was found. Microphytobenthos demonstrated significant rates of primary production that is comparable to pelagic production of Kongsfjorden and, hence, emphasised the importance as C source for the zoobenthos

Seabed acoustic classification in the Pelotas basin, Brazil

The present study sought to develop a seabed map of the region of the Pelotas Basin using acoustic methods. A total number of 1,507,823 seabed reflectivity data, collected during six oceanographic surveys, were processed to generate a seabed map. Data processing consisted of the classification of the acoustic parameter BSBS (Bottom Surface Backscattering Strength) obtained with the Scientific Echosounder EK 500 operating at a frequency of 38 kHz. BSBS is expressed in decibels (dB), and corresponds to a logarithm of the ratio between incident acoustic energy and the energy reflected by the seabed. Four BSBS value classes, associated with different sediment types, were established. High BSBS values are associated with coarse sediments, whereas low values indicate fine sediments. A seabed reflectivity map was generated using the Natural Neighbor method to interpolate the BSBS values organized according to the pre-established classes. Four features with high BSBS values were identified at 100-200 m depth. The largest one was found in the region of Santa Marta Cape and attributed mainly to consolidated seabed and/or the presence of biodetritic material, according to comparison with maps available in the literature. Above 500m depth, there was a predominance of acoustically low reflectivity sea floor, which was attributed to the presence of muddy sediment. Considering the lack of information on the seabed at great depths, the acoustic method was shown to be an alternative tool to obtain data on seabed characteristics in these regions.O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal a realização de um mapeamento de fundo, através de metodologia acústica, para a região da Bacia de Pelotas. Um total de 1.507.823 dados de refletividade de fundo provenientes de seis Cruzeiros Oceanográficos foi processado para elaboração de um mapa de refletividade de fundo. Esse processamento consistiu numa classificação dos valores do parâmetro acústico BSBS adquirido pela sonda EK 500 a uma frequência de 38 kHz. Este parâmetro é disponibilizado em decibel (dB) e corresponde a uma relação logarítmica entre a energia incidente e a refletida pelo fundo marinho. Foram estabelecidas quatro classes de valores de BSBS as quais são associadas a tipos de sedimentos. Altos valores de BSBS são associados a sedimentos grosseiros enquanto baixos valores de BSBS são associados a sedimentos finos. Um mapa de refletividade de fundo foi gerado utilizando o método de interpolação Natural Neighbour dos valores de BSBS dispostos nas classes pré-estabelecidas. Quatro feições com altos valores de BSBS foram identificadas entre as profundidades de 100 e 200 m, a maior delas na altura do Cabo de Santa Marta e atribuídas principalmente a fundos consolidados e/ou com presença de material biodetrítico quando comparado aos mapas disponíveis na literatura. Acima dos 500 m predominaram fundos com baixa refletividade acústica, atribuídos a presença de sedimento lamoso. Tendo em vista a escassez de informações sobre o leito marinho em grandes profundidades, o método acústico mostrou-se uma ferramenta alternativa para obter informações sobre característica de fundo nestas regiões

Listening geographies: Landscape, affect and geotechnologies

This paper argues for expanded listening in geography. Expanded listening addresses how bodies of all kinds, human and more-than-human, respond to sound. We show how listening can contribute to research on a wide range of topics, beyond enquiry where sound itself is the primary substantive interest. This is demonstrated through close discussion of what an amplified sonic sensibility can bring to three areas of contemporary geographical interest: geographies of landscape, of affect, and of geotechnologies