Interpretation of the Sidescan-sonar Imagery in Lake Mohave

Lake Mohave is one of several multi-purpose reservoirs that have been constructed on the Colorado River. The lake was formed upon completion of the Davis Dam in 1953. No mapping of the floor of the lake had been conducted since completion of the Davis Dam. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with researchers from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, completed a geophysical survey of this lake in April 2002. The survey included collection of sidescan sonar imagery of nearly the entire lake floor, and high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles along widely spaced lines throughout the lake. The detailed mapping of the lake floor was used to determine the amount of sediment that had accumulated in the lake since impoundment, its distribution, and the processes of deposition.

莫哈韦湖（Lake Mohave）是科罗拉多河上修建的多用途水库之一。该湖泊于1953年戴维斯大坝（Davis Dam）竣工后形成。自戴维斯大坝建成以来，尚未开展过任何针对该湖湖床的测绘工作。2002年4月，美国地质调查局（U.S. Geological Survey）与内华达大学拉斯维加斯分校（University of Nevada Las Vegas）的研究人员合作，完成了该湖泊的地球物理勘测项目。本次勘测包含了几乎覆盖全湖床的侧扫声呐（sidescan sonar）图像采集，以及沿湖泊全域广泛布设测线获取的高分辨率地震反射剖面（high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles）数据。通过本次湖床详细测绘，研究人员得以明确自水库蓄水以来湖内沉积物的淤积总量、分布特征，以及相关沉积过程。