Three-dimensional multichannel seismic imaging of water columns in the Gulf of Mexico

Seismic reflection profiling technique, previously used to image the sediments beneath the seafloor, is herein used to image the ocean’s water columns, namely, seismic oceanography. The imaging has a much higher lateral resolution (~10 m) than traditional oceanographic measurements such as CTD (usually >100 m). Prior work on seismic oceanography was limited on imaging in two dimensional vertical transects. This work develops the three-dimensional (3D) seismic oceanography technique to image the 3D dynamic processes of water columns. 3D multichannel seismic survey data in a seismic volume of 625 km3 in the Gulf of Mexico are processed and produce images containing detailed 3D water-column structures near the continental slope. Some mesoscale and sub-mesoscale structures are visualized from different viewing angles. Spectral analyses of the seismic images reveal 3D spatial features of the structures, suggesting the potential of 3D seismic oceanography. [Work supported by NOAA.] Seismic reflection profiling technique, previously used to image the sediments beneath the seafloor, is herein used to image the ocean’s water columns, namely, seismic oceanography. The imaging has a much higher lateral resolution (~10 m) than traditional oceanographic measurements such as CTD (usually >100 m). Prior work on seismic oceanography was limited on imaging in two dimensional vertical transects. This work develops the three-dimensional (3D) seismic oceanography technique to image the 3D dynamic processes of water columns. 3D multichannel seismic survey data in a seismic volume of 625 km3 in the Gulf of Mexico are processed and produce images containing detailed 3D water-column structures near the continental slope. Some mesoscale and sub-mesoscale structures are visualized from different viewing angles. Spectral analyses of the seismic images reveal 3D spatial features of the structures, suggesting the potential of 3D seismic oceanography. [Work supported by NOAA.]