A fuel-cell-type seabed-level sensor for monitoring bathymetric evolution

This study presents the development and application of a fuel-cell-type (FCT) sensor to monitor seabed levels in sandy and cohesive sediment environments. The FCT sensor, which utilizes dissolved oxygen as a fuel, enables sensitive bathymetry monitoring via a spontaneous electric current. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that the current, internal resistance, and redox potential are key parameters for identifying sediment texture (sand vs. mud) and estimating the bulk density of the mud. Field tests validated the ability of the sensor to monitor changes in muddy sand seabed levels in near real time. The robust performance of the FCT sensor under various conditions appears to enable its application for automated and continuous monitoring of seabed evolution and infrastructure stability in coastal and marine environments.