The use of an innovative solid towed array for exploring the Antarctic marine environment

A recent marine seismic survey conducted in the Antarctic gathered data using a non-constant diameter solid towed hydrophone array. This array placed each polyvinylidene fluoride hydrophone forward in a hydrodynamically shaped housing designed to maintain laminar fluid flow along most of its length and to prevent boundary layer separation for the remainder. The sensors were external to the strain bearing members. Individual hydrophones enclosed in the hydrodynamic casings were connected in a sequential array by a cable of a small diameter encased in a flexible soft polyurethane, resulting in a very small average diameter array. This compact, robust towed hydrophone array was well-suited to Antarctic exploration where (1) the levels of ambient noise could range from Knudsen Sea State 4 down to below Sea State Zero, (2) array repair would be extraordinarily difficult, and (3) oil-filled array leakage would be particularly damaging to this unique and pristine environment