active sonar

Active sonar is a technique used to detect and determine the distance and direction of underwater objects. It works by emitting a sound wave that travels outward and then reflects off a target object. A receiver picks up this reflected sound, known as an echo, and analyzes it to determine the target's range, bearing, and relative motion.1

This method is crucial for various applications, including military operations for submarine detection and non-military uses like depth sounding and mapping the sea floor. While effective, active sonar's range can be limited by factors such as the weakening of sound energy in water, temperature variations, and background noise.12