Correction of water column height variation on 2D grid high-resolution seismic data using dGPS based methodology

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Marine Geology
• Seismic Data Processing

Background:

• Water column variations (tides, currents, salinity, temperature) complicate high-resolution seismic data correction, especially in shallow marine settings.
• Vessel motion further impacts accurate water column height determination.
• Precise geological interpretations on decimeter scales require robust water column correction methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a time-efficient and precise differential Global Positioning System (dGPS) based methodology for water column height correction.
• To improve the tracking and quality of geological interpretations from high-resolution seismic data.
• To apply and validate the methodology in a complex shallow marine environment.

Main Methods:

• Development and application of a dGPS-based methodology for seismic data correction.
• Testing the methodology on geophysical profiles from the German North Sea.
• Analysis of sub-surface sedimentary structures on decimeter scales.

Main Results:

• The corrected seismic profiles revealed a deeper seafloor, consistent with tide-corrected bathymetry data (1.1–3.4 m deeper, mean 2.2 m).
• The correction enabled accurate plotting of Holocene channel base depths and gradients.
• Distinction of glacial and post-glacial valleys and improved stratigraphic framework were achieved.

Conclusions:

• The dGPS-based methodology significantly enhances the accuracy of high-resolution seismic data processing in shallow marine environments.
• This method is crucial for detailed geological interpretations, including stratigraphy and structural framework delineation.
• The approach offers a precise and less time-consuming alternative for seismic data correction.