• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 2016

We characterize the spatial distribution of Cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts covering the summit and slopes of a seamount in the western Pacific, using acoustic backscatter from multibeam echo sounders (MBES) and seafloor video observation. Based on multibeam bathymetric data, we identify that ~70% of the summit area of this flattopped seamount has slope gradients less than $5^{\circ}$. The histogram of the backscatter intensity data shows a bi-modal distribution, indicating significant variations in seabed hardness. On the one hand, visual inspection of the seafloor using deep-sea camera data exhibits that the steep slope areas with high backscatter are mainly covered by manganese crusts. On the other hand, the visual analyses for the summit reveal that the summit areas with relatively low backscatter are covered by sediments. The other summit areas, however, exhibit high acoustic reflectivity due to coexistence of manganese crusts and sediments. Comparison between seafloor video images and acoustic backscatter intensity suggests that the central summit has relatively flat topography and low backscatter intensity resulting from unconsolidated sediments. In addition, the rim of the summit and the slopes are of high acoustic reflectivity because of manganese crusts and/or bedrock outcrops with little sediments. Therefore, we find a strong correlation between the acoustic backscatter data acquired from sea-surface multibeam survey and the spatial distribution of sediments and manganese crusts. We propose that analyzing acoustic backscatter can be one of practical methods to select optimal minable areas of the ferromanganese crusts from seamounts for future mining.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.222-231
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• 2002

The ADP is an advanced piece of oceanographic equipment that measures water speed and direction profiles from the acoustic Doppler principle. In recent years, the strength of the acoustic backscatter obtained from ADP has been used to measure vertically suspended sediment concentration(SSC) profiles. In this study, an ADP was installed in coastal waters near Yumsan, on the west coast of Korea, and flow and sediment data were gathered simultaneously. SSC concentrations were calculated from the acoustic backscatter strengths adjusted by using calibrated acoustic coefficients. The observed SSC profiles were compared with analytical solutions and showed good agreement. Simultaneously, the suspended material fluxes were analyzed in detail. ADP was very useful for measuring the vertically distributed suspended sediment concentrations and flow velocity profiles.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.167-179
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• 2021

In order to characterize the mixing process of confluence for understanding the impacts of a river on the other river, it has been crucial to analyze the spatial mixing patterns for main streams depending on various inflow conditions of tributaries. However, most conventional studies have mostly relied upon hydraulic or water quality numerical models for understanding mixing pattern analysis of confluences, due to the difficulties to acquire a wide spatial range of in-situ data for characterizing mixing process. In this study, backscatters (or SNR) measured from ADCPs were particularly used to track sediment mixing assuming that it could be a surrogate to estimate the suspended sediment concentration. Raw backscatter data were corrected by considering the beam spreading and absorption by water. Also, an optical Laser diffraction instrument (LISST) was used to verify the method of acoustic backscatter and to collect the particle size distribution of main stream and tributary. In addition, image-based spatial distributions of sediment mixture in the confluence were monitored in various flow conditions by using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which were compared with the spatial distribution of acoustic backscatter. As results, we found that when acoustic backscatter by ADCPs were well processed, they could be proper indicators to identify the spatial patterns of the three-dimensional mixing process between two rivers. For this study, flow and sediment mixing characteristics were investigated in the confluence between Nakdong and Nam river.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.569-580
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• 2013

Co-rich ferromanganese crusts (Fe-Mn crusts) distributed on the seamounts in the western Pacific are potential economic resources for cobalt, nickel, platinum, and other rare metals in the future. Regulations for prospecting and exploration of Fe-Mn crusts in the Area, which enables the process to obtain an exclusive exploration right for blocks of the fixed size, were enacted recently by the International Seabed Authority, which led to public attention on its potential for commercial development. Evaluation and selection of a mining site can be established based on abundance and grade of Fe-Mn crusts in the site as well as topography that should be smooth enough for mining efficiency. Therefore, acquisition of shipboard echo-sounding and acoustic backscatter data are prerequisite to select potential mine sites in addition to visual and sampling operations. Acoustic backscatter data can be used to locate crust-covered areas in a regional scale with the understanding of acoustic properties of crust through its correlation with visual and sampling data. KIOST had collected the topographic and geologic data to assess the resources potential for Fe-Mn crusts in the west Pacific region from 1994 to 2001. However, they could not obtain acoustic backscatter data that is crucial for the selection of prospective mining sites. Therefore, additional exploration surveys are required to carry out side scan sonar mapping combined with seafloor observation and sampling to decide the blocks for application of an exclusive exploration right.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 2020

We analyzed the morphological characteristics of OCC (Ocean Core Complexes) in the middle part of the Central Indian Ridge (MCIR) using high-resolution geophysical data recorded on the Deep-Tow SideScan Sonar IMI-30 system. In terms of slope-gradient variations calculated from the high-resolution bathymetry data, the normal faults formed by seafloor spreading were associated generally with slopes > 30° and resulted in high backscatter intensities, which reflect more topographic effects than acoustic medium variation. However, the areas associated with gentle slopes < 10° tend to show the backscatter intensities reflecting the acoustic characteristic of the medium. We show that the detachment faults exposing the OCCs were initiated with high-angle normal faults (58°) exhibiting outward and inward dips of a breakaway zone. In order to examine the spatial distribution of OCC structures, we characterized the transition from magmatic-dominant seafloor with abyssal hills to tectonic-dominant seafloor with OCC using the down-slope direction variation. The slope direction of the seafloor generally tends to be perpendicular to the ridge azimuth in the magmatic-dominant zone, whereas it becomes parallel to the given ridge azimuth near the OCC structures. Therefore, this spatial change of seafloor slope directions indicates that the formation of OCC structures is causally associated with the tectonic-dominant spreading rather than magmatic extension. These results also suggest that the topographical characteristics of seafloor spreading and OCC structures can be distinguished using high-resolution geophysical data. Thus, we propose that the high-resolution bathymetry and backscatter intensity data can help select potential areas of exploitation of hydrothermal deposits in MCIR effectively.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.57-67
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• 2000

Time-selective self-triggering water sampler, AUTTLE developed by Jin et al. (1999) has been improved in order to prevent pre-deposition of suspended sediments (SS) before sampling. By using two solenoids, the improved sampler is able to be moored or deployed with inclination. Its position is changed to horizontal position by activating the first solenoid, and then the endcaps of the sampling bottle are closed by the second solenoid that is driven three times to minimize possible failure of sampling. An external control unit for setting sampling time has been also constructed. Additionally, the electric circuit housing of the sampler has been modified to be detached from the sampling bottle when operating manually. Its performance has been confirmed through flume tests and a field experiment. It will serve as a valuable tool in the various fields of oceanography and environmental engineering, especially where seawater sampling synchronized at several sites and/or the information in storm period is important.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2015

The contrast (fish body to medium ratio) of density and sound speed were measured to estimate acoustic scattering from small juvenile cod (Gadus macrocephalus) with the Kirchhoff-Ray Mode backscatter model. The density contrast was measured by the density-bottle method and the sound speed contrast was estimated by the time of flight method. The results revealed that the measured density contrasts of juvenile cod varied between 1.003 and 1.029 (mean = 1.014, S.D. = 0.01). On the other hand, sound speed contrasts varied between 1.039 and 1.041 (mean = 1.041, S.D. = 0.001). The relationship between averaged target strength (TS) and total length (TL) established by the model were <$TS_{38kHz}$> = 20log(TL) - 68.8 and <$TS_{38kHz}$> = 20log(TL) - 69.4, respectively.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.1023-1035
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• 2016

Suspended sediment concentration (SSC) is a crucial riverine parameter in terms that it can be utilized for analyzing sediment transport, stability assessment of river and structure and so on. However, in case of domestic, sediment discharge data are not enough because of using conventional sediment samplers. This study aimed at developing a practical technique for estimating suspended sediment concentration in high spatial and temporal resolution by building relationship between acoustic backscatter (or SNR) from H-ADCP with actually observed data using LISST-100X. In this regard, a dedicated correction algorithm was proposed particularly for the adapted H-ADCP (SonTek SL-3000). Then, a SNR-SSC relation was built based upon a real-scale field experiment, where both H-ADCP and LISST-100X were concurrently operated to observe SNR and SSC, respectively. The coefficient of determination for the developed regression equation of SNR-SSC relation was around 0.85~0.88, thereby the relation could be evaluated to be highly correlated. The result of this study might be potentially applied for real-time and simultaneous observation of SSC when H-ADCP could be applied.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2012

The objective of this study is to assess plastic deformation in aluminium alloy by acoustic nonlinearity of laser-generated surface waves. A line-arrayed laser beam made by high-power pulsed laser and mask slits is utilized to generate the narrowband surface wave and the frequency characteristics of laser-generated surface waves are controlled by varying the slit opening width and slit interval of mask slits. Various degrees of tensile deformation were induced by interrupting the tensile tests so as to obtain aluminum specimens with different degrees of plastic deformation. The experimental results show that the acoustic nonlinear parameter of a laser-generated surface wave increased with the level of tensile deformation and it has a good correlation with the results of micro-Vickers hardness test and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) test. Consequently, acoustic nonlinearity of laser-generated surface wave could be potential to characterize plastic deformation of aluminum alloy.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2008

Acoustic technology is commonly used to estimate the biomass and distribution of fisheries resources in coastal areas and the open ocean. Acoustic surveys were conducted on 24-26 May and 20-21 June, 2005, and 15-18 June and 27-30 July, 2006, near the Tongyoung, Geojae, and Namhae anchovy fishing grounds using a dual beam echo sounder. Information was obtained on the distributions of adult and juvenile anchovy (depth and position). We calculated and compared anchovy biomass using simple summation. In this study, all backscatter was attributed to anchovy. We assumed that the average target strength of anchovy was -70 dB and the average body weight was 3 g in May and June 2005, and that the target strength of anchovy was -65 dB and the average body weight was 5 g for pelagic individuals in July 2006. The anchovy biomass in May 2005 was estimated to be 0.147 million tons using the traditional method, while using the summation method, the estimated anchovy biomass was 0.062 million tons in June 2005, 0.21 million tons in June 2006, and in 0.43 million tons in July 2006.