Western Coastal and Marine Geology
Coastal and Seafloor Mapping

Mapping Systems

Surficial and Sub-bottom Systems:
Swath Bathymetry and Acoustic Backscatter

High-resolution swath bathymetry and acoustic backscatter (multibeam and interferometric) augment geologic framework studies by defining seafloor morphology, and help map seafloor facies.

Various systems operate in water depths from less than 5 meters to over 2000 meters.

Photo of the Research Vessel Ocean Alert.
R/V Ocean Alert		 Map showing Los Angeles and its bathymetry offshore
Multibeam bathymetry offshore Los Angeles, CA (above)
and derived seafloor facies (below)
Drawing of ship with hull-mounted multibeam system and cartoon of the multibeam swath.
Multibeam acoustic swath
Image showing depth, or bathymetry, of Tomales Bay, CA in a color-coded map.
Color-coded bathymetry derived from a hull mounted
interferometric system, Tomales Bay, CA

 

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U.S. Department of the Interior    U.S. Geological Survey    Western Coastal & Marine Geology
URL: http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/mapping/swath.html
maintained by Laura Zink Torresan
last modified 17 December 2006 (lzt)