echo sounding

measurement

Also known as: echo ranging

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Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

Echo sounding is a method used to measure the depth of a body of water, such as an ocean. It works by emitting a sound pulse from a vessel, which travels to the seafloor and then reflects back. The time it takes for the sound pulse to return is measured, and using the known speed of sound in water, the depth can be calculated. This process creates a continuous record of the seafloor's topography. While widely used today, accuracy can be affected by factors like underwater canyons, mountains, and variations in water temperature, depth, and salinity. Echo sounding is a key component of bathymetry, the measurement of ocean depths.123

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Earth exploration
Seismic reflection methods
The concept is similar to echo sounding: seismic waves are reflected at interfaces where rock properties change and the round-trip travel time, together with velocity information, gives the distance to the interface. The relief on the interface can be determined by mapping the reflection at many locations. For simple situations…
Read More
The concept is similar to echo sounding: seismic waves are reflected at interfaces where rock properties change and the round-trip travel time, together with velocity information, gives the distance to the interface. The relief on the interface can be determined by mapping the reflection at many locations. For simple situations…
Read More