Why do geophysicists use seismic surveying in the ocean?
Geophysical seismic surveying enables geophysicists to “see” the structure of the Earth beneath the seafloor. Instead of using light waves reflected off objects to perceive things visually, they use sound waves to “see” deep into the earth’s crust. The reason is that sound waves can travel through seawater to penetrate layers of rock and sediment beneath the seafloor, while light waves can’t. These waves are reflected or refracted (bent) as they pass through the Earth and can be detected by devices placed on the seafloor or towed by a ship, providing scientists with an image of the structure and geology beneath the seafloor. The overarching goal of this work is to document the history of the earth and the processes by which it evolves. This knowledge is vital for understanding climate and sea-level change, earthquakes and other natural hazards, and the formation and distribution of natural resources. How many geophysical surveys does UTIG conduct each year? UTIG scientists are involved
