10. Appendix 
10-3 
 
 
Seabed Quality Change 
 
Mud 
Rock 
 
In case of a hard seabed composed of rocks etc., its return trails long, as shown in right chart.   
In case of a soft seabed made of mud, seaweed, etc., they poorly reflect an ultrasonic wave 
to result in thin recording of the seabed with short trail. 
The seabed quality can be more sufficiently identified with use of wider beam angle and 
longer pulse width. 
Usually lower frequency is used. 
 
Abrupt-Sloped Seabed 
 
Sidelobe 
 
False echo 
 
A dim echo may sometimes appear along an abrupt slope of seabed, as if it were floating 
above the slope, when recording.