Seafloor mapping systems

Graphic showing geophysical and sampling systems used to define the seafloor topography, surface sediments, and underlying geology.  Sidescan-sonar systems acquire information about the surface of the seafloor, swath bathymetric systems measure the depth, or seafloor topography, seismic sources map the underlying geologic structure, single-beam echosounders map the depth at a point beneath the vessel, and sampling systems collect samples of the seafloor and can be equipped with digital camers and video systems to collect optical images of the seafloor.