How Single Beam Echosounder Work
A single beam echosounder works by sending sound waves to the seafloor, and then recording the time it takes for the waves to bounce back to the receiver. The basic principle used is the time taken by sound waves to go to the seafloor and return to the water surface, which is then converted to sea depth. The process is as follows:
1. The transmitter on the single beam echosounder functions to produce sound waves which are then transmitted to the subsurface of the water. These sound waves will propagate to the seafloor and other underwater objects.
2. Transducer is a component that receives sound waves emitted by the transmitter. It then converts the sound waves into electrical signals that can be measured. The transducer is usually mounted on the bottom of the ship to get direct contact with the water.
3. The electrical signal generated by the transducer is sent to the receiver. The receiver serves to process this signal and measure the time it takes for the sound waves to return after bouncing off the seabed or underwater objects. This timing information is used to calculate the depth of the water.
4. The data generated by the receiver is displayed on a screen or monitor. This can be a number indicating the depth of the water or a map showing the topography of the seafloor. Users can monitor this information for navigation and water mapping.
5. Some single beam echo sounder is equipped with a recorder to record depth data throughout the vessel’s journey. This is useful for creating seafloor maps or for further analysis.
Single Beam Echosounder Visualization Result
Data obtained from a single beam echo sounder can be processed into a two-dimensional visualization that provides a clear representation of ocean depth and subsurface structures. Through the calculation of sound wave travel time, this information is converted into a two-dimensional graph that maps variations in ocean depth. This 2D visualization can be used for accurate navigation and quick understanding of the seabed topography around the vessel, providing a simpler yet effective view for mapping and research purposes.
Writer : Ignatia Feronica Sinaga
