Volume scattering measurements using parametric sonar

Abstract

A parametric sonar has been used to measure volume scattering strength at a number of ocean locations. The narrow beamwidth and absence of sidelobes of the parametric sonar make it an ideal tool for measuring volume scattering strength as a function of depth. The resolution of this device is such that in some circumstances individual scatterers can be identified. An example of such a situation is presented. The parametric sonar system is described. Additional sets of examples from nearshore and off-shore areas are presented for both day and night conditions.

Calibration sphere for low-frequency parametric sonars

“…Another, larger class of applications exploits the properties of parametric sonar in backscattering, hence over a two-way path. These include acoustic scattering by the sea surface, 6,7 water column, 8 bottom as in the determination of geoacoustic properties 6,[9][10][11] and seafloor characterization, [12][13][14] and seabed vegetation. 15 Some other backscattering applications include sub-bottom profiling, 16 detection of objects on and in the seabed, [17][18][19][20][21] and marine archaeology.…”