Marine Sea Scan Manual page 8

4 Sea Scan® Survey Software Manual
The system emits precise sound pulses
The system receives the returning echoes from the water column and seafloor shortly after
emitting a pulse.
The system picks up the returning echoes
®
Sea Scan Survey listens for a short amount of time, which is determined by the range; then it
pings again, thus beginning a new cycle. The returning echoes from one pulse are displayed on
the SONAR window or waterfall as one single line, with dark and light portions of that line
representing strong or weak echoes relative to time. The stronger the SONAR's returning signal,
the brighter the mark that appears on the SONAR window. The resulting accumulated lines then
form a coherent picture of the seafloor.
The two transducers provide information unique to their particular side of the towfish.
The transducers return information about their side of the
towfish
In between the transducer beams is the boat's track immediately below the towfish. That center
display or water column loosely relates to the boat's track. It communicates details about objects
encountered before the first bottom return and can include things such as surface returns, debris,
fish, and objects protruding from the sea floor.
© 2013 Marine Sonic Technology, Ltd.