Very efficient tools for that purpose are multibeam echosounder. Traditionally these systems were optimized for the precise detection of the seafloor which means that signals from the water column are suppressed or disregarded.

The aim of subproject A1 is to develop data processing methods and enhanced visualisation techniques to allow for a better and faster detection and localisation of gas flares in the water column using portable multibeam systems. The newest generation of echosounder of L-3 communications ELAC-Nautik GmbH allow for a precise determination of seafloor topography as well as for a complete recording of signals from the water column.

To enable these systems for a systematic and routine prospection of gas flares, however, the following objectives have to be achieved:

• Development of suitable algorithms to automatically select interesting parts in the data stream in space and / or time for a reasonable data reduction
• Development of algorithms and techniques to allow for a real-time detection of reflections from gas bubbles
• Development of algorithms for the discrimination between echoes from gas bubbles and other objects in the water column, such as fish swarms, plankton, or abrupt changes of the physical properties of the water
• Investigation of the geological environment of vent sites
• Transfer of the new methods to portable multibeam systems which enable a flexible use of ships of opportunity

The objectives of subproject A1 will allow for a substantially better detection and analysis of gas bubbles in the water column and thus enable an efficient exploration on gas hydrate deposits. Furthermore, these methods can also serve as a leakage-monitor-system during a prospective CO₂-deposition in the sediments, as they are sensitive not just to gas bubbles but also to small droplets of fluid CO₂ in the water column.