Rebent - Réseau benthique
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Acoustics

Underwater acoustic engineering provides morphosedimentary and biological data of coastal sea floors, geographically located with precision by using satellite positioning (differential GPS).

The monobeam bathymetric sounder provides continuous and vertical, morphological profiles of sea floors to the ship. Information on the biomass of submerged large algae may be obtained as well. Using this means may help differenciate between the main alga species.

The multi-beam sounder and the side-scan sonar are appropriate tools for conducting morphosedimentary surveys of large areas, due to the continuous acquisition of sea floor strips (hectometric width, with the possibility of drawing up mosaics). The multi-beam sounder provides bathymetric and morphosedimentary maps of the sea floor. The side-scan sonar gives more accurate data on sea floor surface and on the structure of sediments, due to its higher resolution. Moreover, mapping high concentrations of animal species may be possible (for example, Crepidula), when they reflect acoustic waves (shell, sandy or calcareous tubes). Taking samples of sediments (by using buckets) and rock-cores are absolutely necessary to calibrate the acoustic data.

        


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