How does the ANGUS camera sled photograph large areas of the seafloor?

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The ANGUS (Acoustically Navigated Geological Underwater Survey) camera sled is a deep-towed instrument designed to photograph the seafloor with high resolution. It operates by being towed behind a research vessel at a controlled distance above the ocean bottom.

By capturing thousands of high-resolution photographs in a single day, the system allows researchers to create detailed visual records of the seafloor. Specifically, by utilizing overlapping photographic images, scientists can construct photomosaic strips approximately 10 to 20 metres (33 to 66 feet) wide. These mosaics reveal fine-scale details on the order of centimetres, which has proven particularly effective for the detection of hydrothermal vents at spreading centres.1