Sea Bottom Inversion Using Echo-sounder Measurements for Underwater Applications

Accurate sound propagation modelling requires intimate knowledge of the surficial sediment layer at the sea bottom. This paper presents an experimental analysis of an echo-sounder trial using the Effective Fluid Density Model (EDFM) to estimate sediment parameters at an operating frequency of 200 kHz. Experimental results have shown that while it is possible to distinguish between a hard and soft sea bottom, it is challenging to separate them into finer categories.