RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer: EM122 Multibeam Echosounder Sea Acceptance Trial for TX/RX Arrays, NBP1505, June 10-15, 2015

TitleRVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer: EM122 Multibeam Echosounder Sea Acceptance Trial for TX/RX Arrays, NBP1505, June 10-15, 2015
Publication TypeReport
Year2015
AuthorsJohnson, P, Jerram, K
Number of Pages56
Date Published4 November
Organization NameCenter for Coastal and Ocean Mapping / Joint Hydrographic Center
LocationDurham, NH
Keywordsmultibeam echosounder, nathaniel palmer, tx/rx arrays

The research vessel icebreaker (RVIB) Nathaniel B. Palmer (NBP) undertook cruise NBP1505 in the vicinity of the continental shelf break between Talcahuano and Puerto Montt, Chile, from June 10-15, 2015 (Fig. 1) in order to assess performance of the vessel’s 12-kHz multibeam echosounder (MBES). The MBES consists of a Kongsberg Maritime (KM) EM122 transceiver installed in June 2014 and transmit (TX) and receive (RX) arrays installed in June 2015, prior to NBP1505.

A Sea Acceptance Trial (SAT) for the EM122 transceiver performed in June 2014 (NBP1405) revealed extensive degradation of the original EM120 TX array and motivated the upgrade of both EM120 TX and RX arrays to the latest-generation EM122 models (see NBP1405 MAC SAT report for more detail). A primary expected advantage of the EM122 array upgrade is wider swath coverage through frequency-modulated (FM) transmission compared to traditional continuous waveform (CW) operation. FM capabilities were available with the EM122 transceiver but not fully supported by the original EM120 arrays.

Additionally, the damaged polycarbonate ice window on the EM120 TX array was replaced completely prior to NBP1505; the titanium ice window on the EM120 RX array was observed to be in good condition and reinstalled for the EM122 RX array. A survey of the installed arrays, GPS antennas, and the two MRUs (Seapath 330 and Seapath 200) was conducted while the NBP was in dry dock in Talcahuano. The survey results were provided in preliminary form to KM and MAC personnel for implementation during NBP1505.

URLhttp://mac.unols.org/sites/mac.unols.org/files/NBP1505_20150715_Final_V1pt0_Reduced.pdf