Interface wave generated by an electromagnetic induction source

Interface waves such as the Scholte wave are a useful tool to study geoacoustic properties and can be conventionally generated by an explosive or a pneumatic source on/above the seafloor. This type of source, however, generates strong compressional waves in the water and sediment at the same time; these waves then disturb an observation of interface waves and leads to difficulty in processing. These sources are also relatively hard to control at sea from a viewpoint of repeatability and stability of interface waves to be generated. In addition, environmental problems caused by those sources is a concern. In this paper, an electromagnetic induction source whose vibrator plate hits the seafloor directly and excites interface waves is described. The capability of this source was evaluated both in a water tank and at seashore. The pulsed Scholte waves excited both by several types of electromagnetic induction source having a different shape of vibrator plate and by dropping weight were transmitted in sediment and received using geophones. As a result of comparison of measured signals, the pulse signal propagating from the source demonstrates a sharper rise time than that from dropping weight.