Jm. Bull et al., Reflection coefficient calculation from marine high resolution seismic reflection (Chirp) data and application to an archaeological case study, MAR GEOPHYS, 20(1), 1998, pp. 1-11
Chirp sub-bottom profilers produce high-resolution images of the near-surfa
ce An attribute of the sea-bed reflection in chirp data are fluctuations in
polarity between adjacent traces. Two models are proposed and presented to
explain this: the first incorporates changes in an acoustic impedance grad
ient at the sea bed; the second uses changes in the thickness of the upperm
ost sediment layer. Mixing of adjacent traces produces a consistent polarit
y for the sea-bed reflector. Reflection coefficients are calculated, using
amplitude information derived from single-traces, and polarity information
from trace mixing, with application to a marine archaeological case study.
The reflection coefficient calculated for the top of a buried 18th century
wooden wreck is -0.26.