Acoustic Seabed Characteristics mapping and PAHs assessment

The book aims to detect the sea bed characteristics using acoustic sounding technique in comparison with the ordinary geological analyses. The acoustic data were analyzed with QTC IMPACT software and classified into four acoustic classes (silty sand, sand, sandy silt and silt). Ground truth consisted of 12 grab samples that were investigated to support the acoustic classification. The output acoustic map represents clear intercalation boundaries between the different types of sediment texture. This distribution of sediment types along the bay may be related to water depth, seafloor geomorphology and habitat complexity. The output data indicates a close correspondence between the acoustic pattern and the main sediment characteristics. In addition, assess the PAHs pollution in El-Mex bay sediments. The distribution and origin of PAHs were determined. The lower level of contamination generally corresponded to samples from remote places, like the open sea; whereas higher concentrations were generally representative of coastal samples near to possible sources of pollution.