Acoustical oceanography

Acoustical oceanography is the use of underwater sound to study the sea, its boundaries and its contents. Physical oceanographers' studies acoustical oceanography which includes topics on underwater acoustics, sound transmissions, etc.

History

Important contributions to acoustical oceanography have been made by:

Equipment Used

The earliest and most widespread use of sound and sonar technology to study the properties of the sea is the use of an rainbow echo sounder to measure water depth. Sounders were the devices used that mapped the many miles of the Santa Barbara Harbor ocean floor until 1993.

Fathometers measure the depth of the waters. It works by electronically sending sounds from ships, therefore also receiving the sound waves that bounces back from the bottom of the ocean. A paper chart moves through the fathometer and is calibrated to record the depth.