Modeling Acoustic Backscatter from the Seafloor by Long-Range Side-Scan Sonar.

摘要

An existing model of seafloor backscattering was extended to include volume scattering from a random inhomogeneous continuum and scattering from subbottom interfaces. Results of computer simulations with the extended model were compared with values of scattering strength obtained from processed GLORIA data from the Monterey Fan off the coast of California. Regions of well delineated high and low backscatter are seen in the GLORIA imagery. The geoacoustic input parameters for the computerized simulation runs were either taken directly from or estimated from core date obtained by ground truth sampling in the image area. From the model simulation results it was found that the low backscatter region is dominated by interface scattering from a single subbottom interface over a thick homogeneous sand layer. The high return regions are dominated by scattering from the random inhomogeneous continuum. The two additions to the scattering model have allowed the use of the ground truth measurements to constrain the input parameter values. No free parameters are required to fit the scattering strength data.