Sounding Instruments
MRS500
Hydrographic Survey
Chapter 2
Naim Aziz
Chapter Outline
Definition of SONAR (What?)
Definition of Sounding (What?)
The usage and importance of Sounding (Why?)
Method of Sounding (How?)
Types of Instrument
Leonardo da Vinci
Frederick Vinton Hunt
SONAR is a device for detecting and
locating objects especially underwater Paul Langevin
by means of sound waves sent out to
be reflected by the objects. - Merriam
PING Webster
!!! “If you cause your ship to stop and place the head of a long tube
in the water and place the outer extremity to your ear,
you will hear ships at a great distance from you.”
Sound Wave
• Sound is a mechanical wave – it requires
medium to travel.
• Speed of sound:
• In a normal atmosphere – 343 m/s
• In seawater – 1500 m/s
• In iron – 5120 m/s
• The denser the medium, the faster the
sound wave travels.
Position ( x, y )
( z)
Sounding
• The first objective of a hydrographer is to depict the relief of the seabed, particularly to
ensure the navigation safety.
• Two factors define the location of a single point on the earth’s surface for the sea
survey are:-
The position of the point in the horizontal plane, E.g.; latitude and longitude, grids coordinates or angles
and distance from known control points
The depth of the points below the sea surface corrected for the vertical distance between the point of
measurement and water level and for the height of tide above the datum or reference level to which
depths are to be related.
• The process of measuring depth of water is commonly termed as sounding, where
commonly SONAR is used.
• When the corrections have been applied, the depth is a reduced sounding.
• In the water column or in the underwater environment, our visibility is limited.
• We can only see in the short-range even when we are in clear water.
• It is likely the result of lack of light source that can pass through the water column.
• We can see example like in this big and wide aquarium, which fish at the back is vague
when compared to the fish at the front.
• Sound wave also works better in water than in air, contrary to the nature of light waves.
SEAFLOOR TSUNAMI
MAPPING RESEARCH
SAFE PASSAGE
OIL & GAS
SONAR
Usage
MILITARY
FISHERY
IDENTIFICATIONS
Method of Sounding
• Direct method
• Acoustic method
Direct Method
1. Lead line
2. Sounding Pole / Staf
3. Bar check and Secchi Disc Line
Lead Line
• The simplest method of sounding, which has been used since very early times and is
still employed for measuring comparatively shallow depths.
• The use of the sounding line or lead consisting of a long rope or cord with a
lead weight on the end.
• The cord is marked at appropriate intervals so that when it is dropped into the water,
the operator, the so-called leadsman, can determine the depth as soon as the lead
strikes the bottom.
• The length of these lines was usually less than 30 m, or near project depth; however,
much longer lines were used for deep-water surveys.
• Lead lines normally operated by hand, suspended from a bicycle wheel, or operated
by a power winch apparatus.
Sounding Pole
• Where the depth of water is less than three or four metres a sounding pole is often
more convenient to use than a lead line.
• It is made from a boathook stave or other suitable length of timber (mostly
aluminium now) about 4 - 6 cm in diameter and fitted with metal shoes end.
• These shoes may be weighted if desired so that the pole does not have too much
positive buoyancy. Broad shoe plates should be fitted if the bottom is soft.
• The pole should be painted and marked from both ends, so that either end may
be used to obtain a sounding.
Bar check and Secchi Disk Line
Bar check lines are to be constructed and marked as per survey lead lines.
Care should be taken that the markings indicate the distance from the bar.
Bar check and Secchi Disk Line
A Secchi disk is an 8-inch (20 cm) disk with alternating black and white quadrants.
It is lowered into the water of a lake until it can be no longer seen by the observer.
This depth of disappearance, called the Secchi depth, is a measure of the
transparency of the water.
Traditional vs Modern
• Modern hydrographic surveys are carried out using echo sounding Equipment.
• However, lead line, sounding poles and secchi disk (bar check) may still be used in
the following circumstances:
• for large scale sounding when echo sounders are not available or are unsuitable,
• to spot check an echo sounder for correct depth (Correction & Calibration)
Acoustic Method
1. Transducer
2. Echo Sounder System (ESS)
3. Sound Velocity Probe (SVP)
Instrument
1. Single Beam
2. Side Scan Sonar
3. AGDS
4. Multibeam
Acoustic Method
Component
Transducer
Beam Width
Frequency
Acoustic Method
Component: Transducer
Beam Width 45° opening | 12° opening
• Transducer layout and frequency
determine beam shape.
• Wide-angle opening vs Narrow-angle opening
• The lower the frequency the wider the effective
transducer face must be to maintain a narrow
beamwidth
Acoustic Method
Component: Transducer
Frequency
• The frequency of the transducer determines the type of data that can be gathered.
• Modern echo sounders usually offer a choice of three transmitting frequencies, namely:
• Low frequency – effective for deep water because the attenuation (shrinking) is lower but it required large
transducer.
• High frequency – the transducer can be compact but the range is more limited due to a higher attenuation.
• Dual frequency – combination of LF and HF
• The frequencies of bathymetric echo sounders are typically:
• Waters shallower than 100 metres: frequencies higher than 200 kHz;
• Waters shallower than 1500 metres: frequencies from 50 to 200 kHz;
• Waters deeper than 1500 metres: frequencies from 12 to 50 kHz;
• The frequencies for sediment echo sounders are below 8 kHz.
Acoustic Method
Component
Echo Sounder System
• An echo sounder is downward looking transducer.
• Echo sounders measure the time taken for a pulse of sound to travel to the
seafloor and return, instead of depth
• A transducer fitted in the hull turns electrical energy into mechanical energy and
delivers a pulse of sound energy into the water.
• If the velocity of the soundwave is known, then the distance can be calculated:
where:
vt d = depth
d= v = velocity of sound in seawater
2 t = return travel time
Acoustic Method
Component: SVP
Sound Velocity
• In order to determine depth, the velocity of sound in the water column must be
accurately known.
• An average velocity for the world’s oceans is 1500m/s.
• Sound velocity in seawater is affected by changes in water temperature, salinity
and pressure.
C = 1449 + 4.6t - 0.055t 2 + 0.0003t 3 + (1.39 − 0.012t )(s − 35) + 0.017d
Wilson’s Formula C = sound velocity in m/s
t = temperature in °C
s = salinity in ppt
d = depth in metres
Acoustic Method
Component: SVP
Sound Velocity
Temperature Salinity Pressure
• Ocean temperatures vary • Salinity is the proportion by weight • Pressure is a function of the
of dissolved solids per unit of
from around 28°C at the seawater. depth.
surface in equatorial regions
• Defined as the total weight of solids
to -2°C in high latitudes and in grams, dissolved in 1kg of
• Seawater is slightly
at abyssal depths (4000- seawater, parts per thousand (ppt). compressible.
6000m depth). • The salinity of the oceans is typically
around 35ppt • Speed of sound increases
• An increase of 1°C increases 1.7m/s for every 100m
the speed of sound in • A 1 ppt increase will increase the
seawater by about 4.5m/s.
speed of sound by 1.3m/s. increase in depth.
Acoustic Method
Component: SVP
Sound Velocity
• Sound velocity error is caused by
changes in or the incorrect
determination or assumption of, the
velocity of sound used in measuring the
depth.
• SV for the water column can be
determined by Conductivity,
Temperature and Depth (CTD) probe or
SV probe.
• In shallow water by bar check.
Acoustic Method
Instrument
Single Beam Echosounder System
(SBES)
• SBES sound signal is emitted along the track as ship moves
• Obtain depths directly under the vessel
• Improve the quality of the data in term of both resolution and
accuracy
• The vessel’s roll, pitch and yaw attitude motion parameter solved
Single beam Echo Sounder
by use a narrow beam
• Only need bar check calibration
• Less data and small area coverage
Acoustic Method
Instrument
Side Scan Sonar (SSS) Side Scan Sonar
(SSS)
• A SSS uses high-frequency sound pulses that are bounced off the sea floor
to create an image of the sea floor morphology shape) and show
differences in seabed texture and substrate types.
• Typically, a SSS consists of two transducers mounted in a towed body or
'fish’.
• Strong return (high backscatter) typically occur when the sound is reflected
off hard and rocky surfaces, while weak return (low backscatter) occur if
reflected off softer sediments (e.g. sand).
• Because of the geometry of the sound pulse sent toward the sea floor, an
obstacle rising above the seabed, such as shipwreck or steep hill can cast
shadows (no return) in the sonar image.
• The size of the shadow can be used to determine the size of the feature
Acoustic Method
Instrument
Acoustic Ground Discrimination System
(AGDS)
• AGDS function the same as SBES as it only has one beam system
• Besides depth, AGDS record another two indices of data which
are E1 (Roughness) and E2 (Hardness)
• The relation between the two, can be plotted on a matrix and the
seabed types could be determined
Acoustic Ground Discrimination System
(AGDS)
Acoustic Method
Instrument
MultiBeam Echo Sounder System
(MBES)
• MBES sounds signals are emitted/fanned along and across the track towards
the sea bottom as ship moves.
• MBES systems are used to increase bottom coverage and productivity
• Each of the narrow beams produced yields a resolution of the bottom
equivalent to that of a narrow SBES
• MBES can be mounted on the vessel permanently or temporarily
• The vessel’s roll, pitch and yaw attitude motion parameter and heave are
required in real time by the MBES. The preferred solution is to use a motion
sensor (some use IMU – Inertial Measurement Unit).
• Need Patch Test Calibration
• More data and bigger coverage
Acoustic Method
Instrument
Acoustic Method
Instrument
• Why is an instrument using sound waves
important in hydrographic surveys?
• Distinguish the terms SONAR and Sounding?
Discussion • What are the things involved in sounding
instrument calibration?
• List all the instruments used for underwater
detection and ranging.
End of Chapter