Enhanced Sidescan-Sonar Imagery Offshore of Southeastern Massachusetts

Poppe, Lawrence J; McMullen, Kate Y.; Williams, S. Jeffress; Ackerman, Seth D.; Glomb, K. A.; Forfinski, N. A.

Abstract:

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) have been working cooperatively to map and study the coastal sea floor. The sidescan-sonar imagery collected during NOAA hydrographic surveys has been included as part of these studies. However, the original sonar imagery contains tonal artifacts from environmental noise (for example, sea state), equipment settings (for example, power and gain changes), and processing (for example, inaccurate cross-track and line-to-line normalization), which impart a quilt-like patchwork appearance to the mosaics. These artifacts can obscure the normalized backscatter properties of the sea floor. To address this issue, sidescan-sonar imagery from surveys H11076 and H11079 offshore of southeastern Massachusetts was enhanced by matching backscatter tones of adjacent sidescan-sonar lines. These mosaics provide continuous grayscale perspectives of the backscatter, more accurately reveal the sea-floor geologic trends, and minimize the environment-, acquisition-, and processing-related noise.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

97173

Citation Author:

Poppe, Lawrence J; McMullen, Kate Y.; Williams, S. Jeffress; Ackerman, Seth D.; Glomb, K. A.; Forfinski, N. A.

Citation Contributing Office:

Woods Hole Science Center

Citation Datum:

Citation Day:

Citation Edition:

Citation Editor:

Citation End Page:

Citation Issue:

Citation Keywords:

Citation Language:

ENGLISH

Citation Larger Work Title:

Citation LatN:

0424500

Citation LatS:

0410000

Citation LonE:

-0693000

Citation LonW:

-0713000

Citation Month:

Citation No Pagination:

Citation Number Of Pages:

Citation Online Only Flag:

Citation Phsyical Description:

Available online

Citation Projection:

Citation Public Comments:

Citation Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Citation Series:

Open-File Report

Citation Series Code:

OFR

Citation Series Number:

2008-1196

Citation Search Results Text:

Enhanced Sidescan-Sonar Imagery Offshore of Southeastern Massachusetts; 2008; OFR; 2008-1196; Poppe, Lawrence J; McMullen, Kate Y.; Williams, S. Jeffress; Ackerman, Seth D.; Glomb, K. A.; Forfinski, N. A.