Abstract: A method and system for determining the speed of sound in a fluidic medium by determining the travel time of an acoustical signal a predetermined distance in a fluidic medium by generating a cyclical reference signal of a predetermined frequency and transmitting a portion of the reference signal through the medium. The transmitted portion of the reference signal is received after travelling a predetermined distance in the fluidic medium. The cycles of the cyclical reference signal are counted during the period of time between the transmitting and receiving of the portion of the reference signal wherein the travel time of the portion of the reference signal, is the number of cycle counts divided by the frequency. The speed of the acoustical signal through the fluidic medium is a function of the path length divided by the travel time.

Abstract: A Wide Swath Precision Echo Sounder is provided by means of transmitting grammed acoustic pulses (pings) to insonify a target area and receiving the backscattered energy in two receivers separated vertically. The outputs of each receiver are stored (including phase information) and synthetic aperature outputs are generated. Each space resolution cell will have a phase associated with it for each receiver. Using the interferometer technique, the phase is converted into a depression angle and is combined with the slant range to the particular space cell to provide a numerical measure of the depth and lateral range to the particular spot under consideration.

Abstract: An array of oceanographic instruments is supported on a tension line exteng horizontally at a selected ocean depth between a pair of vertical lines one of which is a ship-borne, end-weighted, winched cable and the other a float-supported and anchored guide line. To hold the array at a selected level, a buoyant package is moved along the guide line to a selected location where it grips the line and exerts its positive buoyant force. By matching positive buoyancy of the package to the negative buoyancy of the weighted cable, opposing, tension-producing forces are applied to the tension line to hold it in its horizontal disposition. The motive power for the buoyant package is supplied by the ship through its cable and the coupled tension line. The horizontal disposition of the array initially is achieved by moving both the cable and the buoyant package to the selected level.