Applied Underwater Acoustics

8.9. Seafloor Identification and Characterization by Use of Sonar

Traditionally, the nature of the seafloor has been determined by means of core sampling, photography, and various in situ probing methods. Such measurements are time consuming and expensive when a large area is to be characterized. Acoustic methods have been developed over the past few decades with the aim of providing rapid coverage of large areas. The applications of acoustic methods range from simple identification, such as, for example, hard ground versus soft ground, sediment type (mud, sand, gravel, rock), etc., or more quantitative characterization such as determination of grain size, roughness, acoustic impedance, etc. With high-frequency sonar, one only hopes to determine ...