System for measuring in situ acoustic energy properties of ocean floor soils

摘要

A hollow, projectile-shaped body containing an acoustical transducer is released into the sea such that the body descends in free fall until it strikes and penetrates the sea floor, coming to a rest therein. Acoustic signals emanating from the acoustic transducer are processed to generate a direct current analog signal which is a function of the acoustical attenuation of the acoustic signals from a time immediately preceding the body striking the sea floor surface until the body comes to rest in the sea floor, thereby obtaining an indication of the physical characteristics of the sea floor.