GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Here’s how it works. 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: -Echo sounding is the key method scientists use to map the seafloor today. The technique, first used by German scientists in the early 20th century, uses sound waves bounced off the ocean bottom. Echo sounders aboard ships have components called transducers that both transmit and receive sound waves.

Detailed explanation-3: -But the sonar data reveals a lot more than depth. Based on the intensity of the echo, scientists can tell if the bottom is hard, sandy, soft, covered in coral, seagrass or other soft plants. By combining the sonar data with direct observations, NOAA creates detailed maps of the seafloor habitat.

Detailed explanation-4: -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.