Sounding Equipment

Representation of the underwater topography of the seafloor

Process of determining the depth of a water body's bed at a particular point

One of the primary operations in hydrographic surveying

Method of measuring depth using physical contact with the bed

Method of determining depth using acoustic techniques

Device that converts electrical energy into high-frequency sound

SONAR stands for

Instrument that transmits underwater sound pulses and receives their echoes to determine depth

Underwater sound pulse emitted by an echosounder

Area of the bottom illuminated by a sonar pulse

Width of the bottom coverage across the vessel's path

Instrument also known as a fathometer

Graduated in meters, decimeters, and half-decimeters.

Unsuitable for strong currents because verticality is difficult to maintain.

Thin rope with a plummet attached to the end.

Unsuitable for swift-flowing water or strong currents.

Improved version of the leadline method.

Large numbers of soundings in water up to approximately 30 m deep.

Also called a fathometer.

Primarily provides depth measurements along the vessel's survey track.

Uses a transducer with a wide angular lateral aperture.

Helps reduce or eliminate gaps between surveyed areas when properly planned.

Uses a sweep system to map the seafloor across a swath.

Provides detailed bottom imagery through depth and bottom detection.