Multibeam sonar provides the best modern technique for obtaining seafloor bathymetry, so why has it not been used for the entire ocean? A) Oceanographers simply have not had time to process all the data. B) It does not work in deep water. C) It is too expensive, requiring many ships many years to survey the entire ocean. D) It does not work where there is ice.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Multibeam sonar is a very effective technique for obtaining seafloor bathymetry, but it is also expensive and time-consuming. Surveying the entire ocean would require many ships and many years to cover all the areas, making it a costly endeavor. As a result, only certain areas, such as shipping lanes and areas of scientific interest, are typically surveyed using multibeam sonar.

Multibeam Sonar Provides the Best Modern Technique for Obtaining Seafloor