Remote and autonomous platforms for measuring broadband backscatter

Abstract

The use of broadband acoustic sonars in acoustical oceanography studies in a broad range of environments, particularly for ecological studies, has rapidly overtaken the use of traditional narrowband sonar systems. Almost as importantly, and often underrecognized, is the diversity of platforms that have been used to support these measurements. In this talk, we present broadband acoustic backscatter collected from a number of platforms, including AUVs, a variety of towed and profiling systems, and a bioacoustics mooring. The primary focus of this talk will be on the data collected from REMUS 600 and REMUS 100 AUVs, and the types of science questions that these platforms, outfitted with broadband scientific echosounders, best support. This work was supported by the Ocean Acoustics and Task Force Ocean Programs at the Office of Naval Research.