A new methodology for quantifying bubble flow rates in deep water using splitbeam echosounders: Examples from the Arctic offshore NW-Svalbard

摘要: Quantifying marine methane fluxes of free gas (bubbles) from the seafloor into water column is importance for climate related studies, example, in Arctic, reliable methodologies are also interest studying man-made and oil leakage systems at hydrocarbon production sites. Hydroacoustic surveys with singlebeam nowadays multibeam have been proven to be a successful approach detect bubble release seabed. A number publications used echosounder data indirectly quantify via empirical correlations between observed hydroacoustic response. Others utilize information an inverse modeling derive fluxes. Here, we present advanced methodology using splitbeam analyzing depth (> 100m). We introduce new MATLAB-based software processing interactively editing how bubble-size distribution, rising speed model calculating backscatter response single bubbles influence final flow rate calculations. As result, highlight need further investigations on large, wobbly bubbles, clouds, multi-scattering target strength. The results emphasize that detailed studies distributions speeds performed parallel achieve realistic mediated flux quantifications.