![]() ![]() The surface of the ocean, which bulges outward and inward in ways difficult for our eyes to recognize, resembles the topography of the ocean floor, and so the radar altimeter can be used against the ocean surface to measure ocean depth. A radar altimeter is a device that measures the distance from land to air by timing how long it takes for radio waves to reflect from the surface back to a satellite. However, there is another method that combines radar with satellite as a way to measure ocean depth. But because electromagnetic waves travel slower in water compared with air and become diminished as they travel through water, they are more ideal for atmospheric measurements. The difference is that radar uses radio waves, a form of electromagnetic wave. Similar to sonar, radar requires sending out a type of wave that pings off an object and reflects back. Ships using sonar move back and forth in a gridlike formation to map out specific areas of the ocean floor.Īnother alternative, though not as fast as sonar, is radar. Multibeam echosounders (MBEs), a type of sonar that sends out rapid sound waves in a fanlike formation to scan the bottom of the ocean floor, are used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to measure the depth of the ocean. The “echo” is the sound wave reflecting off the seabed and returning to the sonar device. ![]() The device sends sound waves to the bottom of the ocean and measures how long it takes for an echo to return. Ships using technology called sonar, which stands for sound navigation and ranging, can map the topography of the ocean floor. The most common and fastest way of measuring ocean depth uses sound. Let’s take a look at these different methods: 1. Sonar Scientists and researchers can use different methods to measure ocean depth. Bathymetric maps are similar to land maps in that they show the different underwater landforms in a specific area. But the deepest part ever recorded is located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, in the Mariana Trench, at a depth of around 11,000 meters (36,200 feet).īathymetry is the scientific term for measuring the depth of water in oceans, lakes and rivers. The average depth of the ocean is 3,700 meters (12,100 feet). There are flat surfaces, but there are all sorts of underwater landforms such as canyons, trenches and underwater volcanoes. Much like the land’s surface with mountains and hills, the ocean floor or seabed isn’t completely flat. In this installment of “How Do You Measure It?,” we will be looking at the methods scientists and researchers use to accurately measure the depth of the ocean. However, thanks to modern technology we can say that present-day sharks are commonly found at depths of around 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). If you’ve seen Jaws, The Meg or any deep-sea thriller, then you’ve seen some of the scariest ocean creatures humans have imagined.īut many of those creatures were in fact real, like the megalodon - a prehistoric shark that could be the size of a school bus! We don’t know how deep they lived in the ocean. * Some dual temperature, depth sounders have not been programmed for metric units.Sound waves from ships and radio waves from satellites are two of the most common ways to measure the depth of the sea. The dual display of the Dual Temperature, Depth Sounder can also show temperature of the water and the ambient air temp. A programmable keel offset lets you adjust the offset from the keel at the display. Audible and Visual alarms let the boater know when a shallow or deep water condition exist. With its oversized back-lit display depth can be easily read in any condition. The Depth Sounders from Faria offer a 3-199 foot (61m) depth capability, with an automatic gain control, backlighting for maximum night vision, keel offset, and deep and shallow water alarms.ĭepth can be read in meters*, and feet. As a result this depth sounder out performs all others on the market in its high speed capabilities and accuracy when faced with various bottom conditions. Faria Engineers have incorporated the latest microprocessor technology and proprietary software designed to take advantage of today's high performance transducers.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |