Collinear track analysis of geosataltimeter data for detecting seamounts in the Arabian Sea

Abstract

The matched filter technique was used to detect seamounts in the Arabian Sea using Geosat altimeter data. The filter was designed using typical models for the geoid undulation signature of a seamount and power spectral density of the background noise. The efficiency of the matched filtering technique was tested by introducing a virtual seamount signature in the background noise. The output of the filter faithfully located the virtual mount signature. The technique was validated by precisely locating charted seamounts like Somali ridge and Error Seamount in the Arabian Sea. Several uncharted seamounts were also predicted using the matched filter technique. These locations were further confirmed by analyzing data of pairs of collinear tracks. Finally, peak depth and height of some of the detected mounts were estimated from the knowledge of overall ocean depth in their vicinity and by assuming a typical value of 6° for the base angle.