M.Sc., Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / Sea oor massive sulphides are deep sea mineral deposits currently being examined as a potential mining resource. Locating these deposits, which occur at depths in the order of 2km, is currently performed by expensive submersible sonar platforms as conventional sonar bathymetry products gathered by sea surface platforms do not achieve adequate spatial resolution. This document examines the use of so-called high resolution beamforming methods (such as MUSIC and ESPRIT) for sonar bathymetry, together with combinations of parameter estimation techniques, including techniques for full rank covariance matrix estimation and signal enumeration. These methods are tested for bathymetric pro le accuracy using simulated data, and compared to conventional bathymetric methods. It was found that high resolution methods achieved greater bathymetric accuracy and higher resolution than conventional beamforming. These methods were also robust in the presence of unwanted persistent signals and low signal to noise ratios.

[pt] A tendência da produção offshore do petróleo é crescente. O transporte do óleo nestes ambientes frios (águas profundas) ocasiona a perda de solubilidade e precipitação das parafinas de alto peso molecular. A deposição de parafinas nas paredes internas das linhas é um problema crítico para o transporte do óleo, causando o bloqueio parcial ou total da linha, um incremento da potência de bombeamento e elevados custos de manutenção que são proporcionais ao aumento da lâmina de água. A pesquisa bibliográfica realizada neste trabalho revela que ainda existem discordâncias entre os pesquisadores sobre a relevância de cada um dos mecanismos de deposição de parafina conhecidos. O melhor entendimento dos mesmos resultaria em previsões mais acuradas das taxas de deposição que seriam muito importantes para orientar programas de manutenção e o projeto de novas linhas. A filosofia do presente trabalho é realizar experimentos simples, com propriedades de fluido conhecidas e condições de contorno bem controladas procurando um melhor entendimento da importância e relevância de cada um dos mecanismos de deposição. Para este fim, foram realizadas experiências de visualização do fenômeno de deposição para uma mistura de óleo-parafina escoando em regime laminar, submetida a diferentes condições de temperatura. Experiências feitas com cristais de parafina precipitados em suspensão mostraram que é necessário um fluxo de calor negativo para produzir deposição. Para fluxos de calor zero e positivo não foi visualizada deposição alguma. Adicionalmente, para condições de fluxo de calor negativo, foram realizadas medições da evolução temporal da espessura da camada depositada tendo como variáveis, diferentes números de Reynolds e gradientes de temperatura. Os perfis de deposição obtidos das experiências realizadas são informação importante e original que podem ser utilizadas para validação de modelos de simulação numérica. / [en] Offshore crude oil production is steadily growing. Oil transport in these cold environments (deep water) causes the precipitation of the heavy organic crude oil components like waxes. Wax deposition at the inner wall of pipelines is a serious problem in crude oil transportation causing the partial or total plugging of pipelines, increase in pumping energy and a high cost of maintenance that is proportionally greater as development depth increases. A literature research conducted in the present work leads to the conclusion that the relative importance of the wax deposition mechanisms is still misunderstood. The importance of this knowledge will result in more accurate prediction of paraffin deposition rates that would be very important to sub sea pipelines maintenance and design. The philosophy of this work is to make simple experiments with known fluid properties and well controllable conditions trying to understand the importance and relevance of each known fouling mechanism. Hence, wax deposition experiments were performed in laminar flow for different temperature conditions with a single-phase paraffin-oil mixture, having the particle migration visualization in mind. Experiments with oil mixture injection temperature below the Wax Appearance Point (with wax crystals flowing) have shown that it is necessary a negative heat flux to produce significant deposition. For positive and zero heat fluxes there was no deposition visualized. Also, the unsteady fouling state for negative heat flux was followed and their temporal deposition profiles measured for different Reynolds and temperature conditions. Those temporal and dimensional deposition profiles are original important information to be compared with numerical simulation.

Meltwater accumulated on the Greenland Ice Sheet drains to glacier beds, discharging into fjords hundreds of meters below sea level. The injection of meltwater at depth generates an upwelling plume that entrains warm ocean water as it rises along the terminus, increasing submarine melt and driving a fjord-scale exchange flow. However, due to sparse ocean-glacier observations, we lack a process understanding of how plumes control fjord circulation and submarine melt. Combining numerical modeling, theory, and observations, this dissertation investigates near-glacier plume dynamics, the influence of glacier depth on plume structure and submarine melt, and the role of fjord-glacier geometry on circulation in tidewater glacier fjords. In Chapter II, I use buoyant plume theory and a nonhydrostatic, three-dimensional ocean–ice model to investigate the sensitivity of plume dynamics to subglacial discharge, turbulent diffusivity, and conduit geometry. Large discharges result in plumes with positive temperature and salinity anomalies in the upper water column. Fjord circulation is sensitive to conduit geometry; distributed subglacial discharge results in a stronger return flow of warm water toward the terminus. In Chapter III, I use buoyant plume theory, initialized with realistic ranges of subglacial discharge, glacier depth, and ocean stratification, to investigate how plume structure and submarine melt vary during summer months in 12 Greenland fjords. Grounding line depth is a primary control on plume-induced submarine melt: deep glaciers produce warm, salty subsurface plumes that undercut termini, and shallow glaciers produce cold, fresh surface-confined plumes that can overcut. Finally, in Chapter IV, I use regional-scale numerical ocean simulations to systematically evaluate how fjord circulation forced by subglacial plumes, tides, and wind stress depends on fjord width, glacier depth, and sill height. Glaciers grounded below sill depth can draw shelf waters over a shallow sill and into fjord basins with seasonal subglacial discharge; this process is independent of external shelf forcing. These results underscore the first-order effect that subglacial discharge and fjord-glacier geometry have in controlling fjord circulation and, thus, ocean heat flux to the ice. This dissertation includes previously published and co-authored material.

A análise batimétrica e sísmica de alta resolução realizadas na Plataforma Continental Externa e Talude ao largo da Ilha de São Sebastião permitiu elaborar um modelo morfológico e sedimentar para região. A Plataforma Continental Externa apresenta uma morfologia extremamente irregular, com presenças de montiformas, escarpas e depressões erosivas. Estas feições e os seus sedimentos superficiais são de origem carbonáticas. Na região da quebra da Plataforma e Talude superior ocorre um intenso processo erosivo, causada pela ação da Corrente do Brasil ao longo do tempo, formando canais e escarpas na região. Ao longo do Talude observam-se inúmeras feições que estão distribuídas por faixas de profundidade. Nos setores mais rasos observam-se há presença de ondas de sedimento e pockmarks ativos e inativos. Abaixo dos 1000 metros as feições predominantes são os canais e depósitos contorníticos, como o Canal de Santos, que possui expressão regional, localizado paralelamente ao talude. Esses depósitos e canais contorníticos são formados e retrabalhados pela incidência das Correntes de Contorno Intermediária (CCI) e da Corrente Contorno Profunda, que sofreram variações ao longo do tempo. / The analysis of high-resolution bathymetric and seismic data from the Outer Continental Shelf and Slope in front of São Sebastião\'s Island allowed us to elaborate a morphological and sedimentary model for the region. The Outer Continental Shelf has an extremely irregular morphology, with the presence of montiforms, scarp and erosive depressions. These features and surface sediments are carbonate. In the shelf break and upper slope occurs an intense erosion, caused by the action of the Brazil Current through time, forming channels and scarps in the area. It was observed that the features over the slope are distributed by depth ranges. In shallower sectors was found active and inactive feature such as sediment waves and pockmarks. Below 1000 meters the predominant features are channels and contourite deposits such as Santos\'s Channel, which has a regional expression and is located parallel to the slope. The formation and rework of these features occurs by the incidence of intermediate boundary current (IBC) and deep boundary current (DBC) and their variation through time.

A análise batimétrica e sísmica de alta resolução realizadas na Plataforma Continental Externa e Talude ao largo da Ilha de São Sebastião permitiu elaborar um modelo morfológico e sedimentar para região. A Plataforma Continental Externa apresenta uma morfologia extremamente irregular, com presenças de montiformas, escarpas e depressões erosivas. Estas feições e os seus sedimentos superficiais são de origem carbonáticas. Na região da quebra da Plataforma e Talude superior ocorre um intenso processo erosivo, causada pela ação da Corrente do Brasil ao longo do tempo, formando canais e escarpas na região. Ao longo do Talude observam-se inúmeras feições que estão distribuídas por faixas de profundidade. Nos setores mais rasos observam-se há presença de ondas de sedimento e pockmarks ativos e inativos. Abaixo dos 1000 metros as feições predominantes são os canais e depósitos contorníticos, como o Canal de Santos, que possui expressão regional, localizado paralelamente ao talude. Esses depósitos e canais contorníticos são formados e retrabalhados pela incidência das Correntes de Contorno Intermediária (CCI) e da Corrente Contorno Profunda, que sofreram variações ao longo do tempo. / The analysis of high-resolution bathymetric and seismic data from the Outer Continental Shelf and Slope in front of São Sebastião\'s Island allowed us to elaborate a morphological and sedimentary model for the region. The Outer Continental Shelf has an extremely irregular morphology, with the presence of montiforms, scarp and erosive depressions. These features and surface sediments are carbonate. In the shelf break and upper slope occurs an intense erosion, caused by the action of the Brazil Current through time, forming channels and scarps in the area. It was observed that the features over the slope are distributed by depth ranges. In shallower sectors was found active and inactive feature such as sediment waves and pockmarks. Below 1000 meters the predominant features are channels and contourite deposits such as Santos\'s Channel, which has a regional expression and is located parallel to the slope. The formation and rework of these features occurs by the incidence of intermediate boundary current (IBC) and deep boundary current (DBC) and their variation through time.

Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) / Mid-ocean ridges are a fundamental but insufficiently understood component of the global plate tectonic system. Mid-ocean ridges control the landscape of the Earth's ocean basins through seafloor spreading and influence the evolution of overriding plate margins during midocean ridge subduction. The majority of new crust created at the surface of the Earth is formed at mid-ocean ridges and the accretion process strongly influences the morphology of the seafloor, which interacts with ocean currents and mixing to influence ocean circulation and regional and global climate. Seafloor spreading rates are well known to influence oceanic basement topography. However, I show that parameters such as mantle conditions and spreading obliquity also play significant roles in modulating seafloor topography. I find that high mantle temperatures are associated with smooth oceanic basement, while cold and/or depleted mantle is associated with rough basement topography. In addition spreading obliquities greater than > 45° lead to extreme seafloor roughness. These results provide a predictive framework for reconstructing the seafloor of ancient oceans, a fundamental input required for modelling ocean-mixing in palaeoclimate studies. The importance of being able to accurately predict the morphology of vanished ocean floor is demonstrated by a regional analysis of the Adare Trough, which shows through an analysis of seismic stratigraphy how a relatively rough bathymetric feature can strongly influence the flow of ocean bottom currents. As well as seafloor, mid-ocean ridges influence the composition and morphology of overriding plate margins as they are consumed by subduction, with implications for landscape and natural resources development. Mid-ocean ridge subduction also effects the morphology and composition of the overriding plate margin by influencing the tectonic regime experienced by the overriding plate margin and impacting on the volume, composition and timing of arc-volcanism. Investigation of the Wharton Ridge slab window that formed beneath Sundaland between 70 Ma and 43 Ma reveals that although the relative motion of an overriding plate margin is the dominant force effecting tectonic regime on the overriding plate margin, this can be overridden by extension caused by the underlying slab window. Mid-ocean ridge subduction can also affect the balance of global plate motions. A longstanding controversy in global tectonics concerns the ultimate driving forces that cause periodic plate reorganisations. I find strong evidence supporting the hypothesis that the plates themselves drive instabilities in the plate-mantle system rather than major mantle overturns being the driving mechanism. I find that rapid sub-parallel subduction of the Izanagi mid-ocean ridge and subsequent catastrophic slab break o_ likely precipitated a global plate reorganisation event that formed the Emperor-Hawaii bend, and the change in relative plate motion between Australia and Antarctica at approximately 50 Ma

Clay minerals from sediment samples obtained on Astoria Fan were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Clay minerals are defined for the purpose of this study as crystalline phyllosilicates less than two microns in equivalent settling diameter. The clay minerals are subdivided into the five common families: montmorillonite, chlorite, vermiculite, illite, and kaolinite. One X-ray scan of a magnesium ion saturated, ethylene glycol treated sample was sufficient for the identification of all the clay minerals. A typical Recent hemipelagic sediment contains about 40 percent montmorillonite, 30 percent illite, and 30 percent chlorite. Neither kaolinite nor vermiculite is detectable in these samples. These concentrations are similar to those reported for Columbia River sediments. The surface sediments have an identical clay mineral assemblage from the head of Astoria Canyon to the outer edge of the fan approximately 250 kilometers offshore. All of the Recent sediments in piston cores from Astoria Fan are the same as the surface sediments on the fan. This similarity indicates an unchanging source during Recent time and a lack of any visible marine diagenesis after burial. X-ray traces of Pleistocene clay minerals are distinctly different from those of the Recent. One can use this change in clay mineralogy as a time marker across the fan. Presumably the Pleistocene clays were formed under different weathering conditions caused by different climatic conditions. / Graduation date: 1967

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Science, 1982. / Supervised by Erik Mollo-Christensen. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-223).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1982. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 217-223).

<p><em>Sjöherravälde, Corbetts teorier inom ramen för modern ubåtskrigföring.</em></p><p>Studie om Corbetts teorier och hur de appliceras på modern ubåtskrigföring. Sjökrigets grunder beskrivs inledningsvis samt av Corbett sammanställda metoderna för etablerande, bestridande samt utövande av sjöherravälde och ubåten som vapen. Därefter följer en studie av historiska källor rörande modern ubåtskrigföring. I denna ingår Scapa Flow 1939, ubåtsstrid vid slaget om Atlanten och USAs sjöfartskrig mot Japan samt sänkningen av Belgrano och det inledande skedet av Falklandskriget 1982. </p><p>Fokus ligger på de olika metoderna som Corbett beskriver för sjöherravälde: avgörande slag, blockad, fleet in being, försvar mot landstigning, sjöfartskrig, amfibieoperationer samt stödjande av expeditionsstyrkor. Med bakgrund i dessa utmynnar uppsatsen i en diskussion om modern ubåtskrigföring som i stor utsträckning verifierar Corbetts teorier.</p> / <p>Naval supremacy, Corbett’s theories within the framework of modern submarine warfare?</p><p>Study of Corbett’s theories and how they apply on modern submarine warfare. Basics of naval warfare is initially described as well as by Corbett complied methods for establishing, disputing and practising naval supremacy and also the submarine as a weapon. Subsequently follows a study of historical sources of modern submarine warfare. This includes Scapa Flow 1939, submarine warfare at the battle of the Atlantic sea and the United States attack on Japanese sea trade in addition to the attack on Belgrano and the preliminary of the Falkland war. </p><p>Focus is on the different methods for naval supremacy that Corbett describes: naval battle, blockade, fleet in being, minor counterattacks, defence against invasion, attack and defence on trade as well as attack, defence and support of military expeditions. With these in context the study results in a discussion about modern submarine warfare that in large extent verifies Corbett’s theories.</p>