Three-dimensional acoustic imaging of the temporal evolution of internal
wave fields in the Gulf of Mexico
Abstract
We report the observation of internal wave fields evolving at the
continental slope in the northern Gulf of Mexico using oil-industry
three-dimensional (3D) seismic imaging techniques. High-resolution
seismic images reveal dynamic wave fields actively present in the
600-900 m water column. The spectral analysis of these wave fields shows
that these waves possess a slope that represents the characteristics of
internal waves. Further analyses suggest that these internal wave fields
are most likely generated by a nearby cyclonic eddy and its interaction
with the continental slope. This work demonstrates that oil-exploration
3D seismic data, if appropriately analyzed, are a useful and powerful
dataset for studying the temporal evolution of deep ocean dynamics that
would otherwise be impossible at similar vertical and lateral
resolution.