Seismic Measurements Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) for Underwater Soft Sediment Characterization: Insights from Laboratory- and Field-Scale Measurements

Scholte wave surveys were conducted at both the laboratory and field scales to evaluate the reliability of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) with a fiber-optic cable resting on top of unconsolidated sedimentary deposits to determine the distribution of S-wave velocity underneath. Laboratory measurements performed in a controlled environment at the Deltares Laboratory facility demonstrated that DAS retrieves low- and high-frequency energy associated with Scholte and guided waves. The recorded DAS signals provided consistent Scholte wave signals, which depicted coherent phase velocity energy that was used to accurately depict S-wave velocity layering. We observed the presence of guided waves at higher frequencies, which appeared to be enhanced as the source position was moved away from the fiber-optic cable. A field survey was carried out using a linear set-up in a shallow lake, where a fiber-optic cable was placed on top of a sediment layer with a thickness of 5–10 m. The results from DAS were validated using standard hydrophone measurements performed simultaneously. The 2D S-wave velocity cross-section retrieved by DAS appeared to be in good agreement with the results obtained from hydrophone measurements, especially when detecting the main velocity transition occurring at a 7–10 m depth from the free surface.