METHODS FOR MARINE EXPLORATION

Course objectives

Developing competencesandlearning outcomes Educational goals: The student is provided the theoretical basis and the tools (also information) for the interpretation of the main geophysical methods for the study of the seabed. Are also treated the sampling methods and means for the acquisition of data at sea. Learning ouctomes: Knowledge of the principles for geophysical prospecting of marine geology Knowledge of instrumentation and sampling techniques of the fund and subsoil Ability to design campaigns for relief on the basis of scientific objectives Knowledge of the principles of seismic data processing and sonar Ability to interpret geophysical data and sampling of the seabed

Channel 1
DANIELE CASALBORE Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
1. General part: marine research vessels, submarines, ROV and A.U.V. Range- range positioning systems, Loran, GPS, DGPS. 2. Methods of direct sampling of the seafloor: Coring (gravity and vibration), grabs and box corer, drilling, non-destructive analysis (sensor logging), opening and study of cores. 3. Geophysical methods in potential: magnetometric prospection, exploration gravimetric 4. Elastic waves: seismic rays and wave fronts; frequency, amplitude, wavelength; fourier transform and waveforms; volume waves and surface seismic velocity, elastic module, P-wave velocity in different types of rock, reflection and refraction; snell's law, the critical angle of refraction, and seismograms shot gather, recognition of different types of waves (direct, reflected, refracted and ground- roll) in the shot gather. 5. Principles of seismic reflection: seismic 2D, 3D and pseudo 3D onshore and offshore; types of representation (wiggle, variable area and density); acoustic impedance, reflection coefficient and transmission, seismic sections, and procedure of the convolution theorem; analog/digital conversion (sampling interval, the Nyquist frequency, alliasing). 6. Mode of acquisition and processing of multi-channel seismic reflection: method of seismic surveys at sea, resonant and impulsive seismic sources and hydrophones; pre-processing and post-stack demultiplexing, static corrections, muting, Mid Point Common, Common Depth Point. CDP- CMP, shot, common offset gathers. Normal Move Out and equation of the hyperbola NMO velocity analysis and semblance panels, mean square velocity and interval velocity (Dix equation). Stack, post- stack processing (mono and multichannel seismic) frequency filtering and amplification for recovery of the amplitudes (TVG, AGC). Spiking and predictive deconvolution, migration, ray-tracing. Resolution seismic vertical and horizontal Fresnel zone. 7. Acoustic effects and distortions on seismic profiles: Vertical Exaggeration, direct wave, ringing, multiple reflections, diffraction hyperbolas, pull- ups and push -down processing effects. 8. 3D seismic: Principles, methods of acquisition and interpretation, seismic 4D. 9. Side Scan Sonar: Principle of operation (diffraction, backscatter, emission lobes). Resolution sonograms (along track and across track), the calculation of the height of the objects. Geometric processing (anamorphosis correction and slant - range). Radiometric corrections (TVG and shading correction). Mosaicking of sonograms. 10 Multibeam (multibeam echo sounder): Principle of operation and the capture mode (positioning, attitude sensors, sensor speed). Footprint, resolution, accuracy and precision. Data processing: calibration (application of the curve and speed of the tide, calibration for pitch, roll, heave and time-delay), noise canceling (automatic filters, manual cleaning).
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of geology, physics (optics and acoustics) physical oceanography and marine chemistry
Books
pdf del corso e articoli scientifici E.J.W. Jones: Marine Geophysics, Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Mussett Khan: Exploring the Underground, Freeman
Frequency
4 hours per week divided in two days
Exam mode
The evaluation of the profit will be made by an oral examination designed to assess the knowledge acquired during the course. During the oral examination will be interpreted geophysical data, to test the ability of interpretation of the same.
Lesson mode
The course includes 40 hours of lectures (5 CFU)integrated by 12 hours of practice (1 CFU). In the lectures, the main indirect and direct methodologies for the investigation of the seafloor will be presented (28 hours) using the teaching material (powerpoint and pdf presentations) downloadable from the moodle Sapienza website. These lessons will be accompanied by collegial discussions of examples of marine survey planning and processing/interpretation of the acquired data (8 hours). In addition, 4 hours of lectures will be dedicated to the presentation by groups of students of specific topics covered in the course and explored in depth through the reading of scientific articles. The exercises will be dedicated to the classroom processing of different types of marine data through the use of open-source or licensed software that will be installed on the students' laptops. In particular, 4 hours of processing will be dedicated to seismic data, 4 hours to sonar data (multibeam and side-scan sonar), 2 hours to sampling of the seabed and 2 hours to their integration. There is also the possibility of participating in oceanographical cruises during the course or after it
DANIELE CASALBORE Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
1. General part: marine research vessels, submarines, ROV and A.U.V. Range- range positioning systems, Loran, GPS, DGPS. 2. Methods of direct sampling of the seafloor: Coring (gravity and vibration), grabs and box corer, drilling, non-destructive analysis (sensor logging), opening and study of cores. 3. Geophysical methods in potential: magnetometric prospection, exploration gravimetric 4. Elastic waves: seismic rays and wave fronts; frequency, amplitude, wavelength; fourier transform and waveforms; volume waves and surface seismic velocity, elastic module, P-wave velocity in different types of rock, reflection and refraction; snell's law, the critical angle of refraction, and seismograms shot gather, recognition of different types of waves (direct, reflected, refracted and ground- roll) in the shot gather. 5. Principles of seismic reflection: seismic 2D, 3D and pseudo 3D onshore and offshore; types of representation (wiggle, variable area and density); acoustic impedance, reflection coefficient and transmission, seismic sections, and procedure of the convolution theorem; analog/digital conversion (sampling interval, the Nyquist frequency, alliasing). 6. Mode of acquisition and processing of multi-channel seismic reflection: method of seismic surveys at sea, resonant and impulsive seismic sources and hydrophones; pre-processing and post-stack demultiplexing, static corrections, muting, Mid Point Common, Common Depth Point. CDP- CMP, shot, common offset gathers. Normal Move Out and equation of the hyperbola NMO velocity analysis and semblance panels, mean square velocity and interval velocity (Dix equation). Stack, post- stack processing (mono and multichannel seismic) frequency filtering and amplification for recovery of the amplitudes (TVG, AGC). Spiking and predictive deconvolution, migration, ray-tracing. Resolution seismic vertical and horizontal Fresnel zone. 7. Acoustic effects and distortions on seismic profiles: Vertical Exaggeration, direct wave, ringing, multiple reflections, diffraction hyperbolas, pull- ups and push -down processing effects. 8. 3D seismic: Principles, methods of acquisition and interpretation, seismic 4D. 9. Side Scan Sonar: Principle of operation (diffraction, backscatter, emission lobes). Resolution sonograms (along track and across track), the calculation of the height of the objects. Geometric processing (anamorphosis correction and slant - range). Radiometric corrections (TVG and shading correction). Mosaicking of sonograms. 10 Multibeam (multibeam echo sounder): Principle of operation and the capture mode (positioning, attitude sensors, sensor speed). Footprint, resolution, accuracy and precision. Data processing: calibration (application of the curve and speed of the tide, calibration for pitch, roll, heave and time-delay), noise canceling (automatic filters, manual cleaning).
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of geology, physics (optics and acoustics) physical oceanography and marine chemistry
Books
pdf del corso e articoli scientifici E.J.W. Jones: Marine Geophysics, Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Mussett Khan: Exploring the Underground, Freeman
Frequency
4 hours per week divided in two days
Exam mode
The evaluation of the profit will be made by an oral examination designed to assess the knowledge acquired during the course. During the oral examination will be interpreted geophysical data, to test the ability of interpretation of the same.
Lesson mode
The course includes 40 hours of lectures (5 CFU)integrated by 12 hours of practice (1 CFU). In the lectures, the main indirect and direct methodologies for the investigation of the seafloor will be presented (28 hours) using the teaching material (powerpoint and pdf presentations) downloadable from the moodle Sapienza website. These lessons will be accompanied by collegial discussions of examples of marine survey planning and processing/interpretation of the acquired data (8 hours). In addition, 4 hours of lectures will be dedicated to the presentation by groups of students of specific topics covered in the course and explored in depth through the reading of scientific articles. The exercises will be dedicated to the classroom processing of different types of marine data through the use of open-source or licensed software that will be installed on the students' laptops. In particular, 4 hours of processing will be dedicated to seismic data, 4 hours to sonar data (multibeam and side-scan sonar), 2 hours to sampling of the seabed and 2 hours to their integration. There is also the possibility of participating in oceanographical cruises during the course or after it
  • Lesson code1022174
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseSciences and Teaching of Natural Systems
  • CurriculumEvoluzione conservazione e didattica
  • Year1st year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDGEO/02
  • CFU6