Data retrieval from bottom instrumentation using acoustic link

Abstract

Bottom instrumentation is being used to collect diverse oceanographic, seismic, and geodetic data, often over prolong periods of time. Such data can be retrieved periodically using an acoustic communication link. Typical but conflicting requirements of such a link are high transmission rates, reliable transmission over long distances, and low power consumption of bottom transmitter. In this article a steerable narrow‐beam acoustic link is suggested as the best feasible approach offering improvement over broad‐beam systems. Various beam configurations are considered and compared in terms of their ability to reject ambient noise and multipath interference. A vertically suspended linear receiving array is postulated as the best solution to multipath suppression and beam tracking.