Effect of elastic properties of sediment on sound pressure kurtosis for marine airgun signal
Yaxi Peng (TU Delft - Offshore Engineering)
Apostolos Tsouvalas (TU Delft - Offshore Engineering, TU Delft - Dynamics of Structures)
Ozkan Sertlek (JASCO Applied Sciences (Deutschland) GmbH)
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Abstract
Seismic airguns are widely used in offshore environments to investigate sub-seafloor layers, generating intense, impulsive sound waves that propagate through seawater, penetrate the seabed, and travel tens to hundreds of kilometers from the source. The characteristics of these acoustic waves evolve as they interact with sediment layers and the sea surface, which can alter the temporal features of the sound pressure reaching marine life at various distances. Assessing sound pressure wave properties across different environments is essential for selecting metrics that effectively gauge the impact of seismic noise on aquatic ecosystems. One such metric, sound pressure kurtosis, reflects the impulsive nature of sound waves and provides a measure of their impulsiveness, which is particularly relevant for assessing potential effects on marine animals. In this study, Green’s functions for the acousto-elastodynamic problem are employed to model sound propagation from seismic airguns, capturing the influence of the seafloor’s elastic properties on sound dispersion. We investigate variations in sound pressure kurtosis across various sediment types, including sandy, silty, and clay-like substrates, examining how each affects the impulsive characteristics of airgun-generated pulses. Additionally, the temporal dispersion of pressure signals from individual airgun shots is analyzed as they interact with differing marine sediments, providing insights into the impact of the seafloor’s elastic properties on sound emissions affecting marine life.