Seismic imaging of glaciomarine sediments of Antarctica: Optimizing the acquisition parameters

Abstract

This paper presents some of the significant points on the designing and acquisition parameters for multi-channel seismic reflection survey in the Antarctic waters with an emphasis of imaging Glaciomarine sediments. Due to their importance in unravelling the paleoclimatic clues, on the practical aspects of seismic data acquisition focused on targeting glaciomarine sediments on the Antarctic margin is stressed. Extensive forward modelling exercise assuming sub-surface model parameters from the published literature pertaining is carried out to the Eastern Antarctic Margin (EAM). The reason for choosing this area is that the Prydz Bay sector of EAM has been known to have undergone huge glacial sediment accumulation in the past due to its contiguity with the Amery Ice Shelf. It is suggested that the best suited acquisition parameters for collecting high quality multi-channel seismic data in order to image the Glaciomarine sediments in this region