A Wide Range Sonar System for Oceanic Investigations

A modular, multi-channel sonar system capable of operation over the range from less than ten kilohertz to over one megahertz is described. The system features large dynamic range, low electronic noise level, variable output power to over one kilowatt and digital control of transmit and receive frequency. Capable of operation with a wide variety of transducers with only matching network changes, the system has found especial utility in acoustic studies of midwater scattering and mixing phenomena in both coastal and open ocean environments. Data is shown typical of the phenomena amenable to acoustic examination with the system. Waste dump dispersion, internal waves, shear instabilities and particulate transport observations are shown.