Seafloor morphology lies at the heart of nearshore coastal processes research. Very shallow water bathymetric studies are few: it is exceedingly difficult to traverse and document surf zone bed characteristics using common oceanographic survey tools. Dr. Jesse McNinch, NRC postdoctoral fellow at the Field Research Facility (FRF) in Duck, NC, has been instrumental in developing an amphibious swath-mapping system and mapping the seafloor in the vicinity of the FRF. The FRF's LARC is an ideal amphibious platform and allows us to merge terrestrial topography with nearshore bathymetry. This work is supported by the Terrestrial Sciences Program of the Army Research Office.
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Submetrix transducer package and TSS DMS-05 motion sensor (upright black cylinder). The system is rigidly fixed to the hull of the LARC. RTK-GPS sensor is located at the top end of the mounting pole. |
The Submetrix bathymetry-mapping system can also be easily mounted on other vessels; we have used it on the Cap'n McNinch's Cape Tel for surveys around Morehead City. The mounting bracket (detail shown below) can be fixed to nearly any V-hull. The transducer package is about 50 cm below the waterline.
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© Copyright 1997 Tom Drake