Physical and Acoustic Properties for Unconsolidated Sediment in the Kwangyang Bay: In Comparison with the Continental Terrace Sediment in the North Pacific

Laboratory determination of acoustic property for unconsolidated sediment of Kwangyang Bay was carried out. The compressional wave velocity was correlated to other physical properties and sediment textures to establish a geoacoustic model of the bay. The model was compared to the North Pacific continental terrace sediment. Velocity of the bay is systematically lower(0.02-0.04km/s) than that of the North Pacific. Average velocity of the bay is 1.521km/s. The lowest velocity is measured at the southwestern part of the bay. This area coincides with high amount of fine-grained sediment related to slower circulation. The overall tendency is, however, similar to the North Pacific continental terrace sediment.