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Articles

Number 4 (2010)

Modelling Uncertainty Caused by Interval Waves on the Accuracy of MBES

Submitted
August 13, 2013
Published
2010-12-12

Abstract

A 3D ray tracing model has been developed to estimate the effects of internal waves upon the accuracy of multibeam echosounders (MBES). A case study examines the variability in these effects as a function of survey line direction and also considers the case of improving 2D ray tracing models with wave parameters derived from MBES water column imagery. Results indicate that, under certain circumstances, the effects of internal waves can prove to be a significant source of uncertainty that detracts from the ability to efficiently map the seafloor with wide swath angles.