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Depth measurements in the sea are done with echo sounders, using an acoustic signal which is reflected off the bottom. Sound travels at about 1.5 km/sec in water. Echo sounders can be quite simple devices for use by yachts in shallow waters, to much more complex equipment used in surveys for geographic purposes. The process is known as Bathymetry and there is a Wikipedia article under this title for more information.
Sonar technology, which uses sound energy, is commonly used to measure the depth of the sea. Sound waves are sent down into the water and the time it takes for them to bounce back to the surface is used to determine the depth.
This would be the easiest thing one can do. take a measuring tape and measure it.
Just kidding.
As far as I know, the depth of the ocean can be measured by a sonar. This instruments emits some sound waves which are then then analysed and the depth are calculated.
As a ship's Officer may I answer this question from my own knowledge and experience at sea. All ships carry Echo Sounding equipment. It makes use of the science and the Echo Sounder is a very important electronic navigation aid,
It is a kind of sonar. It can be used to find out how far your ship's hull is from the bottom of the sea, knowledge which is absolutely vital to safe navigation particularly in harbour areas, as well as finding fish, and for such purposes as finding enemy submarines. The science is also used in hydrography work involving nautical charts.
All this equipment works on the principle of transmitting sound pulses into water. Very basically your ship's Echo Sounder electronically calculates the depth beneath your ship. It does this by measuring the time interval between the production of the sound your ship's echo sounder sends down at the surface of the sea and the arrival of the echo back in the same Echo Sounder equipment.
It simply calculates it because the velocity of sound in sea water is 1.5 kilometres per second. So if for example the echo returns 0.3 seconds after it was transmitted, that means the pulse must have travelled 450 metres. To be completely accurate in reading his equipment the ship's Officer has to take such factors into consideration as the salinity of water and its temperature. So while on a deep-sea vessel the echo sounder is designed to give very accurate depth indication at sea, because water at sea is salt, if that ship goes up river and water becomes fresh the same echo sounder reading will be slightly wrong. A small craft on a river will have equipment designed to give accurate depth readings in fresh water rather than salt water.
In equipment design one sonar pulse needs to be sent down and its echo received back before the next pulse is sent down. That is why Echo Sounder equipment has different ranges, so different pulse ratios can be used in very deep water compared to shallow water, just as ship's radar has different pulse interval ranges between short and very long distances on the surface, so in both cases the ship's Navigation Officer needs to choose the correct range for task in hand in using the science.
In birtually all Echo Sounders at sea today, the calculated depth received back is displayed on a cathode ray tube for instant notification as well as the same equipment printing a visual trace of the water depth. This can be particularly valuable in dense fog; but more importantly the Cathode Ray display of the depth in the wheelhouse will rapidly make navigation officer and/or Master aware if depth below keel is diminishing and thus may warn of an urgent need to alter course to avoid his ship running aground by mistake such as through getting dangerously too close to the shore.
Thus the science used by the Echo Sounder can prevent the kind of terrible mistake made by the Master of the Costa Concordia who ran his ship aground in January 2012, resulting in 32 on board losing their life and the wrecking of the ship.
As well as an aid to navigation, the same echo sounding science is also of value in fishing vessels because variations in elevation often indicate parts of sea or ocean where large numbers of fish congregate and so can be extremely valuable in finding fish to hunt..
echosounding, or using sonar and seeing how the sound waves bounce off, is used to map the bottom of the ocean and see how deep it is. A Fathom
The internationally agreed standard on marine charts is the metre.
Fathoms is the unit used for measuring the depth of the ocean; there are 6 feet to a fathom.
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What is device is used that emits a sound wave to measure the ocean floor?
A sonar device is commonly used to emit sound waves and measure the ocean floor. Sonar works by sending sound waves downward, which bounce off the sea floor and return, providing information about the depth and characteristics of the ocean floor.
How does the pressure at a certain depth in sea water differ from that at the same depth in river water?
The pressure at a certain depth in sea water is higher than at the same depth in river water because sea water is denser due to its higher salinity. This increased density results in greater pressure in sea water compared to river water at the same depth.
What is the pressure in bar at 400 meters sea depth?
The pressure at 400 meters sea depth is approximately 40 bar. This is because pressure increases by around 1 bar for every 10 meters of depth in sea water.
How can we measure the depth of sea by using SONAR?
SONAR works by sending out sound waves that bounce off objects in the water and return to the sensor. By calculating the time it takes for the sound waves to return, we can determine the depth of the sea based on the speed of sound in water. The depth is calculated using the formula: Depth = Speed of sound in water x Time taken for sound wave to return / 2.
What depth is required in sea water for 1 bar pressure?
A depth of approximately 10 meters is required in sea water for 1 bar pressure. This is because each meter of water depth exerts a pressure of approximately 0.1 bar due to the weight of the water above it.
Do they measure river depth by sea level on some rivers?
Tjehs
What are the function of fathometer?
fathometer is an instrument used to measure the altitude of na object above a fixed level , fathometer measures the sea depth
What is the instrument used to measure the depth of sea called?
The instrument used to measure the depth of the sea is called a bathymeter or echo sounder. It sends sound waves to the ocean floor and measures the time it takes for the sound waves to bounce back, allowing for the calculation of water depth.
What cartographers use to measure the height and depth of earths other features?
Sea level
What is a fathom?
A fathom is a unit of imperial length which is used to measure the depth of water. I fathom is equivalent to 6feet or 1.83metres e.g. 3 fathoms = 18ft or 5.49m
How do scientists measure ocean depths?
Scientists measure ocean depths using sonar technology, which involves sending sound waves into the water and measuring how long it takes for them to bounce back. Another method is using satellite altimetry, which measures the sea surface height and then estimates the depth based on the gravitational pull of underwater features. Submersibles equipped with depth sensors can also be used to directly measure the depth of the seafloor.
How can Ultrasound be used to measure the Depth of Sea Water?
an ultrasound wave is beamed down from a boat and then the wave bounces back from the seabed to a reciever. the longer the wave takes, the deeper the water.
How does the density of sea change with depth?
the density of sea increases with depth
Can a human live in the depth sea?
no human can live in the depth sea
What instrument is used for indicating the depth of the sea beneath a moving vessel?
bathometer
What is the unit of measure from bottom up to the top of the sea?
The unit of measure from the bottom of the sea to the surface is typically meters or feet. The depth of the sea is measured from the seabed to the sea surface.
Can a human being live in the depth sea?
no human being can live on the depth sea
