What is a Echo sounder?

An echo sounder is a device that measures depth using ultrasonic waves. Many are attached to ships and are used to measure the depth to the bottom of seas, rivers, etc. It sends ultrasonic waves and measures the depth from the time it takes to reflect off the seabed and return. In seawater, sound travels at a speed of about 1500 m / s, so if it takes 2 seconds from transmission to reception, you can see that the depth to the seabed is 1500 m. In recent years, multi-beam echosounders that use multiple ultrasonic beams have become the mainstream, making it possible to measure a wide range of depths at once.

Application of Echo sounder

Echo sounders are mainly used to measure the depth to the seabed. Knowing the depth to the bottom of the sea makes it possible to create accurate charts, which plays a very important role in ship operations and bay construction. In addition, there are many volcanoes and faults that are difficult to confirm on the seabed. Knowing the information on the seabed also leads to the utilization of these marine resources. Furthermore, information on the seabed is very important for Japan, which is an earthquake-prone country, and is indispensable for disaster prevention.

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