3D UHR seismic and back-scattering analysis for seabed and ultra-shallow subsurface classification

Abstract Recently, the seabed classification method based on back-scattering data of multi-beam echo-sounder (MBES) is widely used to analyze the distribution of seabed sediment. Although various analysis methods for seabed classification using multi-spectral MBES have been developed, they are limited in securing penetration depth to consider the characteristics of the shallow subsurface structure. In this study, the seabed and ultra-shallow subsurface classification was performed by comparative analysis of box corer sampling, back-scattering, and 2D/3D ultra-high-resolution (UHR) seismic data obtained from Yeongil Bay, South Korea. We proposed a process for seismic ultra-shallow subsurface classification by the segmentation of the primary seabed reflection wavelet and the amplitude analysis. The seabed-reflected amplitude and back-scattering intensity showed similar mapping trends in the relatively homogeneous and thick surface sediment. On the other hand, it was confirmed that back-scattering data and seabed-reflected amplitude show different patterns when the subsurface structure is related to the seabed surface. It is presumed that because seismic data containing relatively low-frequency components have a deeper penetration depth than MBES, they contain more characteristics of the ultra-shallow subsurface than back-scattering data. These were determined that back-scattering has advantages in representing acoustic anomaly distribution by surface sediment type, and seabed-reflected amplitude is advantageous for representing sediment type by ultra-shallow subsurface. In particular, these results were well shown when the surface sediment thinly covered the rocky bottom. Therefore, it is necessary not only to analyze the back-scattering of MBES but also the ultra-shallow subsurface features through seismic data for valid seabed classification.