Sonar equations for planetary exploration
- PMID: 27586766
- DOI: 10.1121/1.4960786
Sonar equations for planetary exploration
Abstract
The set of formulations commonly known as "the sonar equations" have for many decades been used to quantify the performance of sonar systems in terms of their ability to detect and localize objects submerged in seawater. The efficacy of the sonar equations, with individual terms evaluated in decibels, is well established in Earth's oceans. The sonar equations have been used in the past for missions to other planets and moons in the solar system, for which they are shown to be less suitable. While it would be preferable to undertake high-fidelity acoustical calculations to support planning, execution, and interpretation of acoustic data from planetary probes, to avoid possible errors for planned missions to such extraterrestrial bodies in future, doing so requires awareness of the pitfalls pointed out in this paper. There is a need to reexamine the assumptions, practices, and calibrations that work well for Earth to ensure that the sonar equations can be accurately applied in combination with the decibel to extraterrestrial scenarios. Examples are given for icy oceans such as exist on Europa and Ganymede, Titan's hydrocarbon lakes, and for the gaseous atmospheres of (for example) Jupiter and Venus.
Similar articles
-
Looking for planetary moons in the spectra of distant Jupiters.Astrobiology. 2004 Fall;4(3):400-3. doi: 10.1089/ast.2004.4.400. Astrobiology. 2004. PMID: 15383243
-
Biological Contamination Prevention for Outer Solar System Moons of Astrobiological Interest: What Do We Need to Know?Astrobiology. 2019 Aug;19(8):951-974. doi: 10.1089/ast.2018.1996. Epub 2019 Feb 14. Astrobiology. 2019. PMID: 30762429 Free PMC article.
-
Optical efficiencies of lightning in planetary atmospheres.Nature. 1987 Aug 6;328:509-10. doi: 10.1038/328509a0. Nature. 1987. PMID: 11540880
-
Spectroscopic Detection of Biosignatures in Natural Ice Samples as a Proxy for Icy Moons.Life (Basel). 2023 Feb 9;13(2):478. doi: 10.3390/life13020478. Life (Basel). 2023. PMID: 36836835 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Characterization of the Surfaces and Near-Surface Atmospheres of Ganymede, Europa and Callisto by JUICE.Space Sci Rev. 2024;220(5):59. doi: 10.1007/s11214-024-01089-8. Epub 2024 Aug 8. Space Sci Rev. 2024. PMID: 39132056 Free PMC article. Review.
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Miscellaneous