Scientific data acquisition using navigation sonar

This paper discusses the use of echosounders with forward-looking capabilities (navigation sonar) as scientific instruments for the acquisition of sensor data useful both for short term and long term measurement of Arctic system parameters and variables for the scientific investigation of environmental change and to create data products useful to many communities. Key to accomplishing these goals is the ability of navigation sonar to acquire high resolution bathymetry and other data across swaths of the sea floor and in the water column that may be readily communicated to interested parties. These data can then be made available for direct use in developing products that may include Notices to Mariners and navigation charts, and to processes that analyze the data in detecting physical changes in the environment indicative of events and trends of scientific significance. The resulting products and analyses can then be made available to specific groups such as mariners and vessel owners to plan and monitor their voyages, to groups of researchers that may collaborate by aggregating research data, to local communities that have a direct interest in the results, and to the scientific community in general.