Side Scan Sonar

Side Scan Sonar

Side scan sonar is an ideal tool for creating detailed images of the seafloor. Underwater objects both large and small can be imaged with near photographic quality in any visibility. The side scan sonar data on these pages were collected with a towed side scan sonar system. The sonar vehicle or "towfish" is pulled through the water by a cable directly behind the survey vessel close to the bottom. The seafloor is then repeatedly "illuminated" with acoustic pulses that combine to form an image. The resulting image represents an aerial view of the seafloor.