Seismic reflection surveying is used to generate acoustic images of the water column. This technique employs conventional multi-channel equipment which is used to image the solid Earth. In the water column, acoustic impedance contrasts are produced by variations in temperature and, to some extent, salinity. Acoustic impulses generated by an array of airguns suspended behind a vessel are reflected from these contrasts and recorded on long cables of hydrophones that are towed below the sea-surface. In this way, two- and three-dimensional images of thermohaline circulation can be generated. Critically, these images have equal vertical and horizontal resolutions of \textit{O}(10)~m. Here, I describe, process, and analyse a calibrated two-dimensional seismic survey from the Bellingshausen Sea of the Southern Ocean and a three-dimensional seismic survey from the Brazil-Falkland Confluence located offshore Uruguay. First, the Bellingshausen survey was designed to image the thermohaline structure across the west Antarctic shelf where warm-core eddies are reported. Processed and calibrated seismic images reveal the detailed thermohaline structure of Circumpolar Deep Water. Many warm-core eddies are observed, which have diameters of 1--12~km and thicknesses of 100--200~m. Pre-stack analysis demonstrates that this eddy field is being advected onto the shelf at speeds of \textit{O}(0.1)~m~s$^{-1}$. An iterative inverse modelling procedure is used to convert reflectivity into temperature and salinity, which confirms that the eddies have anomalously warm centres (i.e. $\sim$1$^{\circ}$C). These results have significant implications for ice shelf melting. Secondly, the Uruguay survey is used to investigate a large-scale frontal system. Although this system has been studied using hydrographic methods, these studies either have limited spatial resolution or have restricted depth penetration. The three-dimensional seismic survey, which was acquired in a `racetrack' pattern, permits the volume to be interrogated. Since the frontal system migrates southwestwards at a speed of \textit{O}(10)~km~day$^{-1}$, this survey is time-lapse in nature. Processed images reveal a band of dipping reflections that extend to depths of $\sim$2000~m. These reflections represent the frontal interface between the Brazil and Falkland currents. Physical oceanographic properties are calculated for images that cross this front. On the warm side of the front, the water mass is characterised by flat and continuous reflectivity. On the cold side of the front, the water mass is characterised by deformed reflectivity on all scales. Pre-stack analysis suggests that near-surface flow at the frontal interface is convergent. Between 0.5 and 1~km depth, a substantial eddy that is 30~km long and 250~m thick is visible on the cold side of the front. Detailed mapping suggests that this eddy grew and decayed over a period of 6~days. Its observed scale and duration are inconsistent with analytical and numerical studies of intra-thermocline eddies. Nevertheless, its duration is consistent with scaling arguments of frictional spin-down. Spatial and temporal distributions of mixing rates (i.e. diapycnal diffusivities) are estimated by spectrally analysing vertical displacements of automatically tracked reflections. Both internal wave and turbulent regimes are identifiable. Recovered diapycnal diffusivities are of \textit{O}($10^{-6}$--$10^{-2.2}$)~m$^{2}$~s$^{-1}$, consistent with hydrographically determined estimates. Mixing is suppressed and enhanced on the warm and cold sides of the front, respectively. Seismic Oceanography has considerable potential to quantify aspects of thermohaline circulation on multiple scales.

Ce travail constitue une étude préliminaire au développement d’un nouvel outil d’observation de la thermocline saisonnière de la Mer d’Iroise, la sismique réflexion. Une application inédite de cette technique à l’imagerie de structures océanographiques très peu profondes (z < 50 m) est réalisée. Dans un premier temps des règles de construction d’un dispositif sismique dédié à l’observation de telles cibles ont été définies à partir d’une réflexion théorique sur la mesure de sismique. Une évaluation de systèmes existants a ensuite été réalisée au travers de l’étude de 4 profils sismiques des campagnes GO, Carambar et Sigolo retraités spécifiquement, présentant des signaux aux mêmes profondeurs que la thermocline de l’Iroise. Ces dispositifs conventionnels apparaissent inadaptés à l’observation d’une cible océanographique superficielle, du fait i – d’un fort effet de filtre d’antenne lié à de grands offsets et longueurs de trace, et ii – de sources qui ne combinent pas puissance et fine résolution verticale. A partir de données océanographiques nouvelles acquises en Mer d’Iroise lors de la campagne Fromvar (été 2010), l’acquisition sismique a été modélisée, et les paramètres du dispositif idéal ajusté. Un système courts – offsets comprenant 4 flûtes de 6 traces de 1.8 m et un Sparker fournissant un signal de 400 Hz avec un niveau d’émission de 210 dB re 1 μPa @1m, a été proposé. Testé lors de la campagne ASPEX 2012, il a fournit une image de résolution latérale inédite de la thermocline saisonnière à 30 m de profondeur et de ses variations de fine échelle horizontale (quelques centaines de m à quelques km) causées par des ondes internes, au large de la Bretagne sud. / This work is a preliminary study for the development of a new tool, marine seismic reflection, for the observation of the seasonal thermocline of the Iroise Sea. It is the first application of this technique to the observation of shallow oceanographic structures (z < 50 m). In order to define general requirements for the design of a seismic acquisition system suited to the imaging of such targets, the theory of the seismic measurement was first investigated. Four multi-channel seismic reflection profiles from the GO, Carambar and Sigolo cruises were then reprocessed and analyzed in order to assess the potential of conventional seismic systems. They were found ill suited to the imaging of shallow oceanographic structures, because of a high antenna filter induced by large offsets and seismic trace lengths, and sources that do not reconcile with the high level of emission and fine vertical resolution. New oceanographic data acquired in the Iroise Sea during the Fromvar 2010 cruise allowed simulation of the seismic acquisition, and the definition of optimal acquisition parameters for the imaging of the seasonal thermocline. Sea trials of this specifically designed system were performed during the ASPEX survey, conducted in early summer 2012. The seismic device featured: four seismic streamers, each consisting of 6 traces of 1.80 m.; a 1000 J SIG Sparker source, providing a 400 Hz signal with a level of emission of 210 dB re 1 μPa @1m. This survey captured the 15 m thick, 30 m deep seasonal thermocline in unprecedented detail, showing images of vertical displacements of horizontal wavelength of a several hundreds m to a few km , most probably induced by internal waves.