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How does the Deep Tow instrument produce detailed images near the ocean floor?
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undersea exploration
Learn about the pioneering life and work of American oceanographer and explorer Sylvia Earle.
The Deep Tow instrument, developed by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, produces highly detailed images of the seafloor and subbottom structure by operating in close proximity to the ocean floor. Unlike surface-based systems, the Deep Tow package is towed behind a research vessel at a slow speed, maintaining a position 10 to 100 metres (33 to 330 feet) above the seabed.1
The instrument package achieves its precision by integrating several specialized technologies:
- Acoustic Systems: It contains both echo sounders and side-scanning sonars, which allow it to resolve finer-scale features than are possible with ship-mounted systems like Seabeam.1
- Geophysical Instrumentation: The package includes associated geophysical tools that work in tandem with its sonar capabilities to map the seafloor and the structure beneath it.1
By operating near the bottom, the system minimizes the signal degradation that occurs over long distances in the water column, yielding precise measurements of seafloor morphology and texture.1