Seismic Streamer (marine seismic measuring cables)

• Subject Area: Geophysics and Geodesy
• Term: Funded in 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 560186699

Seismic surveys are used to explore the subsurface. Seismic streamers (marine seismic measuring cables) are used to map structures under the sea (or lakes). A seismic streamer is a cable containing many sensitive hydrophones that register artificially generated acoustic waves that are reflected at layer boundaries in the subsurface. Once the signals have been digitized, high-resolution structural images of the subsurface can be created. Such images are indispensable for answering a variety of geoscientific questions. The seismic streamer applied for here is a central device in the marine equipment pool of the Priority Research Area Kiel Marine Science at Kiel University. The focus of the work is on the highest possible resolution imaging of the shallow subsurface (to a depth of approx. 1000 meters below the seafloor) in order to investigate the following objectives.1) Submarine natural hazards: The focus of the work is on the investigation of submarine landslides and associated hazards (tsunamis, destruction of infrastructure) on continental slopes and oceanic volcanic islands. Seismic measurements are necessary to analyze the landslides themselves and the conditions that lead to landslides. 2) Sediment transport processes on continental slopes: The overall goal is to analyze the processes that control the deposition, erosion and transport of sediments as they move from terrigenous sources to deep-sea sinks.3) Reconstruction of glacial processes: Seismic and acoustic data are used to map glacial structures and thus reconstruct the dynamics of ice sheets. 4) Development of lakes: Seismic data make it possible to investigate the sedimentological and tectonic development of lakes. Among other things, this is important in order to utilize lakes as continental climate archives. 5) Work in connection with the major international drilling programs ICDP (International Continental Scientific Drilling Program) and IODP (International Ocean Discovery Program) and, in future, IODP3. Seismic data are a prerequisite for the realization of scientific drilling projects. 6) Palaeo-landscape reconstructions: Ancient land surfaces are to be reconstructed and archaeologically interpreted.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Seismik Streamer (Marin seismisches Messkabel)
• Instrumentation Group: 0420 Seismometer und Geräte für Sprengseismik
• Applicant Institution: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Leader: Professor Dr. Sebastian Krastel