Sidescan sonar produces imagery for creation of mosaics and seafloor substrate classification. The Seafloor Mapping Lab (SFML) operates two independent sidescan sonars: a "traditional" towed EdgeTech 260TH dual-frequency (100 & 500 KHz) system and a hull-mounted 240 KHz Reson 8101 SeaBat multibeam sonar-based system. The EdgeTech sonar can generate very high resolution (10-20 cm) imagery throughout the continental shelf depth range (1-300 m), while the Reson performs best in depths < 150 m.
The Seafloor Mapping Lab (SFML) Data Library includes remotely sensed images (high-resolution multibeam bathymetry and side scan sonar geotifs), derived data (bathymetric contours, grid analyses), habitat classification data, associated data sets (survey footprints, coastline, NOAA charts), and FGDC metadata for 30+ locations along the California coast. Data archived since 2000.
