Depth-dependent geoacoustic properties are inferred from wide-angle frequency-domain reflection-coefficient data at two sites with different mud-layer thicknesses on the New England Mud Patch. A trans-dimensional Bayesian inversion is employed to estimate geoacoustic properties and uncertainties from these data using the viscous grain shearing sediment model and spherical-wave reflection-coefficient predictions. Results near the thick-mud (SWAMI) site show a nearly uniform sound velocity over the upper approximately 9.2 m, followed by a transition layer with velocity increasing nonlinearly by $\sim$280 m/s over 1.8 m. At the thin-sediment (VC31-2) site, the velocity profile exhibits a similar transition layer. Estimates of intrinsic velocity and attenuation dispersion are also obtained. Over the measurement band of about 400–1300 Hz, the velocity in the fine-grained sediments (mud) at both sites varies by only a few meters per second, i.e., velocity is nearly independent of frequency. The attenuation of the fine-grained sediments at both sites follows a nearly linear frequency dependence. The geoacoustic inferences compare reasonably closely with independent measurements including core measurements, chirp-reflection data, and angle of intromission data.

中文翻译：

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通过反射系数反演在新英格兰泥块上进行色散与深度相关的地声推断

深度相关的地声特性是从新英格兰泥块上具有不同泥层厚度的两个地点的广角频域反射系数数据推断出来的。使用粘性颗粒剪切沉积物模型和球波反射系数预测，采用跨维贝叶斯反演从这些数据中估计地声特性和不确定性。厚泥 (SWAMI) 站点附近的结果显示，在大约 9.2 m 的上部具有几乎均匀的声速，然后是一个过渡层，其速度在 1.8 m 内非线性增加 280 m/s。在薄沉积物 (VC31-2) 站点，速度剖面显示出类似的过渡层。还获得了固有速度和衰减色散的估计值。在大约 400–1300 Hz 的测量频带上，两个地点的细粒沉积物（泥浆）的速度变化仅为每秒几米，即速度几乎与频率无关。两个地点的细粒沉积物的衰减遵循几乎线性的频率依赖性。地声推断与独立的测量结果相当接近，包括岩心测量、线性调频反射数据和入射角数据。