GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Multibeam sonar signals are sent out from the ship. With about 1500 sonar soundings sent out per second, multibeam “paints” the seafloor in a fanlike pattern. This creates a detailed “sound map” that shows ocean depth, bottom type, and topographic features.

Detailed explanation-2: -Sonar uses sound waves to ‘see’ in the water. Sonar, short for Sound Navigation and Ranging, is helpful for exploring and mapping the ocean because sound waves travel farther in the water than do radar and light waves.

Detailed explanation-3: -With active sonar, the transducer array emits an acoustic signal or pulse of sound into the water. If an object is in the path of the sound pulse, the sound bounces off the object and returns an “echo” to the array. If the array is equipped with the ability to receive signals, it measures the strength of the signal.

Detailed explanation-4: -A bathymetric chart is a type of isarithmic map that depicts the submerged topography and physiographic features of ocean and sea bottoms. Their primary purpose is to provide detailed depth contours of ocean topography as well as provide the size, shape and distribution of underwater features.