Sound Images of the Ocean

Sound Images of the Ocean is the first book of its kind which offers a comprehensive overview of acoustic imaging applications in the various fields of marine research, utilization, surveillance, and protection. The book employs 400 sound images of the sea floor and of processes in the sea volume, contributed by more than 120 marine experts from 22 nations. Written to be accessible to professionals in diverse related fields, the concise accompanying explanations of the complex relationships revealed by the images strive to condense the results to an essential "message." The book develops an interdisciplinary understanding of underwater acoustics and its diagnostic capabilities in order to visualize in detail the two thirds of the surface of the globe otherwise hidden from view. The high resolution but ship dependent acoustic imagery is compared with its satellite dependent counterpart, the large scale sea floor imagery by scanning the gravity deformed sea surface.

• Ocean
• Ocean acoustics
• high resolution echo sounding
• hydroacoustic methods
• marine
• ocean echo sounding
• satellite
• sea floor relief

From the reviews:

"The book Sound Images of the Ocean is the first attempt to publish a comprehensive overview of the wide variety of acoustic applications in the fields of marine research, offshore economy, surveillance and protection of the ocean. … More than 120 sound images authors and marine experts from 22 countries have contributed to the book. … The book is intentionally written for the non-expert who may be a scientist from a neighbouring faculty." (P. Wille, Sprachrohr, Issue 38, 2005)

"Wille presents nearly 140 pages of mostly color images of sea floor topography, ranging from beautifully rendered global scenes to detailed depictions of sedimentary bedforms. … This convenience combined with the in-depth explanations and exceptionally high quality of the images … make this book an essential companion to all of us interested in understanding the oceans." (Larry Mayer, Acta Acustica united with Acustica, Vol. 91 (6), 2005)

"A compilation of thousands of hours of imagery acquisition from many different kinds of sonar systems … . a lovely book for a compilation of beautiful data examples and detailed descriptions. … It is a book for new readers in the field and should be welcomed into libraries … ." (Tim Le Bas, Marine Geophysical Researches, Vol. 29, 2008)

"This book aims … to introduce the spectacular geological formations and sedimentary bedforms in the deep oceans revealed by the acoustic methods to a much wider audience. … written for the non-expert in marine acoustics who may be a scientist from a neighbouring faculty e.g. researchers and lecturers in oceanography, marine geology, environmental sciences, geophysics and related fields. … It is well worth adding to a research library … . a useful addition for those interested in applications of acoustics to marine science. " (Les Hamilton, Acoustics Australia, Vol. 34 (2), August, 2006)

• Heikendorf, Germany

  Peter C. Wille

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