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Preface The expedition ARK XIX/3 with the German icebreaking RV ...

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B. 3.3 PARASOUND sediment echosounding<br />

Rogenhagen, J., Usbeck, R.<br />

One of <strong>the</strong> fixed sensor installations onboard <strong>the</strong> “Polarstern” is <strong>the</strong> sediment<br />

echosounder PARASOUND (Krupp Atlas Electronics, Bremen). <strong>The</strong> system provides<br />

digital, high resolution information on <strong>the</strong> sediment coverage and <strong>the</strong> internal structure<br />

of <strong>the</strong> sediments.<br />

For this purpose <strong>the</strong> echosounder uses <strong>the</strong> so-called parametric effect: PARASOUND<br />

radiates two primary frequencies in <strong>the</strong> kilohertz range that generate a secondary<br />

pulse of lower frequency, which provides <strong>the</strong> signal. <strong>The</strong> secondary frequency can be<br />

chosen between 2.5 and 5.5 kHz and is adjusted by varying <strong>the</strong> variable primary<br />

frequency from 20.5-23.5 kHz while <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r is fixed to 18 kHz. Due to its low<br />

secondary frequency and a small emitting angle of 4 degrees PARASOUND achieves<br />

high resolution of <strong>the</strong> sediment structures and penetrating depths of around 100<br />

meters.<br />

<strong>The</strong> reflected signals of <strong>the</strong> subbottom sediments are displayed on a digital <strong>the</strong>rmal<br />

printer (Atlas DESO 25). Data recording is done by a PC-based software<br />

(PARADIGMA) that digitises <strong>the</strong> signal. Finally, data is stored on hard disks for fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />

processing. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, two printers are installed <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> system, to give a tabular<br />

printout of <strong>the</strong> recording parameters and a coloured online profile.<br />

<strong>The</strong> secondary frequency of <strong>the</strong> sediment echosounder during <strong>the</strong> cruise had been 4<br />

kHz <strong>with</strong> a recording length of mostly 133 ms (that corresponds to a depth range of<br />

100 m assuming sound velocity of water). Mainly good wea<strong>the</strong>r conditions <strong>with</strong> calm<br />

seas provided excellent measuring conditions. <strong>The</strong> echosounding system itself<br />

worked properly and <strong>with</strong>out any break downs. In total, <strong>the</strong> PARASOUND system<br />

operated for about 280 hours and approx. 5 GB of data were recorded and stored on<br />

CD-ROM. <strong>The</strong> data had been edited, postprocessed and visualized. <strong>The</strong> complete<br />

dataset will be submitted and incorporated in <strong>the</strong> PANGAEA Database hosted by <strong>the</strong><br />

AWI (see examples of <strong>the</strong> visualization in Figs. B3.3-1 and B3.3-2)<br />

<strong>The</strong> PARASOUND system has been in use in <strong>the</strong> small scale investigations in <strong>the</strong><br />

area of <strong>the</strong> Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano, some profiles were measured while<br />

transferring between working areas. <strong>The</strong> data will provide important preconditions for<br />

<strong>the</strong> three dimensional correlation of profiles and <strong>the</strong> sediment cores that are taken on<br />

that profiles.<br />

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