Geoacoustic Models of the Shallow Water Acoustic Variability Experiment 2015 in the Northeastern East China Sea

Abstract

This work started from the Shallow Water Acoustic Variability Experiment in 2015 (SAVEX15). It provides bottom and geoacoustic models to fulfill the underwater acoustic simulation. SAVEX15 is a joint ROK-US acoustic experiment for testing shallow water acoustic variability in the northeastern East China Sea. The experiment area is located between the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea of the epicontinental sea where experienced the sea-level changes during the Quaternary. The area is a low-gradient continental shelf in a water depth of ~ 100 m around 32°30 to 35N, 126° 05 to 12E, about 70 km southwest of Jeju Island. In the study area, the pre-last glacial maximum (LGM) strata comprises incised channel fills and prograding deposits of fluvial, estuarine, or tidal origin. This study will reveal the depositional characteristics of the continental shelf strata, based on closely spaced high-resolution seismic profiles ( Chirp and Sparker) with piston/grab/box cores. The detailed seismic survey ( ~ 110 line-km of 8 lines) and coring work including 36 piston cores were fulfilled in the relatively small marine area (15 x 10 km2 in area) for representing the depositional and geoacoustic characteristics of different physical and sedimentological properties in the northeastern East China Sea. Based on the interpretation of the high-resolution seismic profiles, sedimentary cores, and geoacoustic data, this study suggehallow water acoustic variability in the northeastern East China Sea. The experiment area is located between the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea of the epicontinental sea where experienced the sea-level changes during the Quaternary. The area is a low-gradient continental shelf in a water depth of ~ 100 m around 32°30 to 35N, 126° 05 to 12E, about 70 km southwest of Jeju Island. In the study area, the pre-last glacial maximum (LGM) strata comprises incised channel fills and prograding deposits of fluvial, estuarine, or tidal origin. This study will reveal the depositional characteristics of the continental shelf strata, based on closely spaced high-resolution seismic profiles ( Chirp and Sparker) with piston/grab/box cores. The detailed seismic survey ( ~ 110 line-km of 8 lines) and coring work including 36 piston cores were fulfilled in the relatively small marine area (15 x 10 km2 in area) for representing the depositional and geoacoustic characteristics of different physical and sedimentological properties in the northeastern East China Sea. Based on the interpretation of the high-resolution seismic profiles, sedimentary cores, and geoacoustic data, this study sugge