Assessing dynamic seabed change on the UK continental shelf

了解动态海底变化的速率和程度是海上建筑业的基本要求。在任何置于海底的结构物的使用寿命期间，沉积物运动可能导致掩埋或冲刷，这将需要额外的工程解决方案，以确保结构物的长期完整性。大陆架上既有移动的沉积物，也有静止的沉积物。大陆架上许多公认的移动的底形可能是残留物，形成于末次冰期后大陆架均衡调整期间，不存在危险。相反，现代活动沙丘的迁移率，如果不进行昂贵的重复调查，是很难确定的。最近，联合王国数据档案中心提供了可供公众查阅的区域范围广泛的高分辨率海底测绘数据（如多波束声纳勘测），这为评估若干不同地理情况下的沉积物稳定性状况提供了机会。该项目将对可能对近海建筑业构成风险的地点采取个案研究办法，并将包括移动的底形（沙丘）、生物礁（冷水珊瑚）和沉船。如果数据集是在不同时期收集的，则将计算变化率，以估计变化的规模、速度和程度。存在试点研究，例如Games & Gordon（2015）在两个风电场开发区观察到的五年沙波迁移研究，以及对北海移动基底上建筑的影响。爱丁堡皇家学会地球与环境科学汇刊，doi：10.1017/S1755691015000110。然而，还没有全面的大规模测绘研究试图量化英国大陆架海底变化的速度和程度。该提案首先由SSE的Peter沃森提出，现有的许多电缆路线数据集与以前的国家海底测绘活动相比极具价值。该项目旨在提供制图产出，即一些关键区域（移动的底形、生物礁、沉船）的海底“变化”图。预测的变化图量化了在定义的时间尺度上的变化率。论文、科学出版物（如适用）。与利益相关方（SNH、MSS、SSEN）密切合作，制定缓解计划。

Understanding the rate and extent of change on a dynamic seafloor is an essential requirement for the offshore construction industry. During the lifetime of any structure placed on the seafloor sediment movement can lead to either burial or scouring that will necessitate an additional engineering solution to ensure the structure's long term integrity. The continental shelf contains sediment in both mobile and static condition. Many recognised mobile bedforms on the shelf could be relict, forming during the isostatic readjustment of the shelf after the last glaciation and present no risk. Conversely the rate of transport of modern, active dunes is difficult to ascertain without costly repeated surveys. The recent availability of publicly accessible, regionally extensive, high-resolution seabed mapping data (e.g. multibeam sonar surveys) from the UK Data Archive Centres provides an opportunity to assess the state of sediment stability across a number of different geographical situations.. The project will adopt a case study approach of sites which might present a risk to the offshore construction industry and will include mobile bedforms (dunes), biogenic reefs (cold water corals) and wrecks. Where data sets have been collected over different time periods rates of change will be calculated in order to estimate the scale, rate and extent of change. Pilot studies exist such as Games & Gordon (2015) Study of sand wave migration over five years as observed in two windfarm development areas, and the implications for building on moving substrates in the North Sea. Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, doi:10.1017/S1755691015000110.However no comprehensive broad-scale mapping study has been attempted to quantify the rate and extent of seafloor change on the UK continental shelf. The proposal was first developed by Peter Watson at SSE and numerous cable-route datasets exist which would be extremely valuable to compare to previous national seabed mapping campaigns. The project aims to deliver mapping outputs, a number of seafloor 'change' maps in key regions (mobile bedforms, biogenic reefs, wrecks). Predicted change maps quantifying rate of change at a defined timescale. Thesis, scientific publications as appropriate. Close working with stakeholders (SNH, MSS, SSEN) to develop mitigation plans.