Distribution and influencing factors of acoustic characteristics of seafloor sediment in the Sunda Shelf.

To understand the acoustic and physical properties of piston core samples collected from the Sunda continental shelf and analyze their distribution patterns, the samples were analyzed in laboratory, from which three provinces were divided in sound speed, sound speed ratio, porosity, wet bulk density, and maximum shear strength. Province I had lower sound speed and sound speed ratio (<1.04), high porosity, and low wet bulk density. Province II had higher sound speed and sound speed ratio (>1.04), low porosity, and high wet bulk density. Province III had the lowest sound speed and sound speed ratio (0.99), highest porosity (81%), and lowest wet bulk density (1.34 g/cm3). The distribution pattern indicates that sediment movement, sediment source, topography, and hydrodynamic conditions influenced the distribution of acoustic and physical properties. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship of the maximum shear strength to the porosity and wet bulk density, and found that the maximum shear strength was proportional to both the porosity and wet bulk density. This finding has significant implications for ocean engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]