Problems and Prospects of Seismoacoustic Profiling for Bottom Sediments Stratigraphy Studies, Sedimentary Cover Rocks and Submarine Permafrost Investigations on The Arctic Shelf

Summary The article discusses the problems of interpreting the stratigraphy and the genesis of sediments based on seismoacoustic data. Carrying out seismoacoustic studies on the shelf of the Arctic seas made it possible to study the structure of the upper horizons of the sedimentary cover, to identify neotectonic faults, and also to reveal the features of the distribution of submarine permafrost. The results obtained have shown the effectiveness of seismoacoustic studies in areas of a simple structure of the sedimentary cover, not affected by active tectonic movements or permafrost processes. The study of the areas of distribution of submarine permafrost requires expensive drilling operations, which make it possible to correctly estimate the age and genesis of sediments.