Developed in the early 1960's by Dr. Harold Edgerton at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Edgerton found that applying the
electronic principles from the flash tubes of high speed flash photography to
acoustics that "flashes" of acoustic energy could be sent into the
water and then record the reflections. Edgerton could then tow his sonar device
behind a vessel and create a continuous image of the sea floor.
Original Images on Paper
The original technology produced images on paper rather than
a computer screen. These early paper records were produced by a thermal plotter
that burned the sonar image onto a scrolling paper record. By the 1980's
commercial systems using newer cheaper computer systems could convert the
analogue scan into a digital scan displaying the images on a computer screen
and storing data on computer hard drives.
Used to find the Titanic
By 1985 advances in submersible, video and side scan
technology helped Dr. Robert Ballard discover the wreck of HMHS Britannic's
legendary sister ship RMS Titanic at a depth of 3,800 meters (12,467 feet).
Modern Side Scan Sonar
Used for both exploring and mapping of lakes, rivers and the
ocean floor the modern side scan sonar works similar to low illumination angle
aerial photography (but with pulses of sound rather than light). It is useful
for locating shipwrecks, downed aircraft, drums, tires, pipelines and other
"targets".
You Don't have to Be Wealthy to own one
Basic lake and river models can be purchased for around a
thousand dollars and ocean ready models for under three thousand. All you need
is a boat and a little disposable income and you can let the adventure of a
life time begin.
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