Multi-band, calibrated backscatter from high frequency multibeam systems as an efficient tool for seabed monitoring

Multibeam echosounders are routinely used to provide information on the bathymetry and geomorphology of the seabed. At the same time, more and more users are exploring the full potential of sonar systems as a tool for marine environment monitoring. Benthic habitat mapping using remote sensing methods gives broad-scale information about the geographical range and distribution of marine habitats on the seafloor together with substrate characterization. The crucial element of data collection and processing for that purpose is backscatter, the echo intensity recorded concurrently with bottom detections. The acoustic response of the seabed depends not only on sediment type or its roughness but also on signal frequency and angle of incidence. By introducing more frequencies to our data collection we can capture more environmental information and make a prediction of the geographical distribution of benthic marine habitats and seabed types more accurate.