Assessing dynamic seabed change on the UK continental shelf

了解动态海底变化的速度和程度是海上建筑行业的基本要求。在任何放置在海底的结构的使用寿命期间，沉积物的移动可能导致掩埋或冲刷，这将需要额外的工程解决方案来确保结构的长期完整性。大陆架包含有移动和静止状态的沉积物。大陆架上许多公认的可移动的河床可能是遗留下来的，它们是在最后一次冰期后大陆架均衡调整期间形成的，目前没有风险。相反，如果不进行昂贵的反复调查，就很难确定现代活动沙丘的移动速度。最近，英国数据档案中心提供了可公开访问的、区域范围广泛的高分辨率海底测绘数据（例如，多波束声纳调查），为评估许多不同地理情况下的沉积物稳定性状态提供了机会。该项目将采用个案研究方法，研究可能对离岸建筑工业构成风险的地点，包括流动河床（沙丘）、生物礁（冷水珊瑚）和沉船。在收集了不同时期的数据集的情况下，将计算变化率，以便估计变化的规模、速率和程度。已有一些试点研究，如Games和Gordon（2015）在两个风电场开发区域观察到的五年内沙波迁移研究，以及对北海移动基板上建筑的影响。爱丁堡皇家学会地球与环境科学学报，doi:10.1017/S1755691015000110。然而，还没有全面的大尺度测绘研究试图量化英国大陆架海底变化的速度和程度。该提案最初是由SSE的Peter Watson提出的，目前存在大量电缆路线数据集，与之前的国家海底测绘活动相比，这些数据集非常有价值。该项目旨在提供绘图输出，在关键区域（移动河床、生物礁、沉船）绘制一些海底“变化”地图。预测变化图在一个确定的时间尺度上量化变化速率。论文，科学出版物为宜。与利益相关者（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.