Sound Velocity Meters

A sound velocity profiler is a crucial device in underwater acoustic applications, primarily used to measure the speed of sound in seawater. The speed of sound in water is affected by environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, and pressure, so accurate sound velocity data is essential for sonar depth sounding, multibeam systems, underwater positioning, and seabed mapping operations.

Depending on the application, sound velocity profilers are categorized into two main types: point measurement and profiling types. Point measurement profilers are often installed near sonar or sensors to provide real-time local sound velocity corrections. Profiling profilers measure sound velocity variations along the water column depth, creating a complete sound velocity profile to correct errors caused by sound refraction due to water layer differences.

Some advanced sound velocity profilers integrate GPS, CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) sensors, and data loggers to enhance the range and accuracy of data applications. They are indispensable tools in various underwater acoustic measurement and navigation systems.