Numerical simulation of cold seeps plume flow at the 'F' station in the South China Sea based on acoustic characteristics

The study of the acoustic characteristics of subsea cold seep plumes is of great significance for improving the accuracy of geophysical detection and estimating methane flux from cold seeps. However, existing models still have limitations in their applicability to low-temperature and high-pressure environments. In this study, we have improved the equations for sound wave propagation velocity and wave dynamics in gas-containing liquids by adopting the Van der-Waals equation and the Keller-Miksis equation, making them more suitable for the characteristics of low-temperature and high-pressure environments. Taking the "F" station in the South China Sea as an example, we constructed an acoustic characteristic model for cold seep plumes using multi-beam sonar data and random media theory, and investigated the influence of bubble radius and concentration on sound speed.