Mapping of the PARASOUND penetration depth in the Pine Island Bay, West Antarctica

• Main Author: Rackebrandt, Nick
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Univ. Bremen 2006
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica; Pine Island; Pine Island Bay; Sea ice; West Antarctica
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/51987/; https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/51987/1/Rackebrandt_2006_PARASOUND_report.pdf; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.95afda7e-dc29-4c6c-9f46-6d6e09cc6c58

Summary: The PARASOUND-data of the study area show all a relatively small penetration depth. The acoustic penetration is between 0 and 45 m, but in most parts of the area less than 5 m. The maximum of 45 m occurs only at one point. The bathymetry is very rugged in most parts of the study area. Due to the sensibility of the PARASOUNDsystem to a dipping seafloor the wide low penetration depth is not only an effect of the physical properties of the seafloor, but also of the relief. Data quality in western and northern parts of the study area was strongly influenced by sea ice conditions, due to inconstant speed, ramming and the ice itself. In some parts of PIB West disturbances during measurements were so strong that the seafloor could not be located. While PIB North has almost no penetration of more than 5 m, PIB West has some parts of deeper penetration in troughs and depressions. High penetration was almost exclusively found in the deep troughs – especially in depressions within the troughs. Since PIB South includes the deepest troughs, it is the area where one can find the penetration at its largest; here the high penetration is most frequently. This part has also the highest density of data, the largest continuous area of penetration larger than 5 m and the deepest penetration depth (45 m)