Mediterranean Excursion for Applied Acoustics’ Deep Tow Sparker

The Applied Acoustics deep-tow sparker, the DTS-500, has recently been deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, off the continental slope of Majorca, working on a project with SOCIB, the Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forcasting body. Assisted by SOCIB’s Oceanographic Instrumentation Technician, Carlos Castilla Álvarez, the DTS-500 was deployed in deep water, up to 500m, at a distance up to 1km from the SOCIB research vessel.

“We achieved greater than 60m penetration and with increased data resolution, up to 15cms, the sub-bottom profiling results were excellent across the full-working depth range of the DTS-500, “stated Project Leader, Neil MacDonald.

“We also deployed multiple positioning beacons, the new Applied Acoustics’ new 1100 Series, on both the tow-cable and towfish and used the recently launched Nexus 2 USBL positioning system with similar excellent results ” he added.

Designed for high and ultra-high resolution geophysical surveys the DTS-500 operates from a single industry standard coaxial tow cable up to 2000m in length, has long-life durable electrodes and integral hydrophone receiver.

The complete system consists of a rack mount surface console, cable and robust towfish. It easily interfaces with standard data-loggers and benefits from all the full safety interlocks expected from the company that has been at the forefront of this technology for more than 20 years.