Which acoustic mapping technology is installed on modern AUVs according to the text?
The abyssal plains, spanning more than half of the Earth's total crustal surface, remain less systematically mapped than the surfaces of the Moon or Mars. Deep ocean bathymetry was historically hindered by the attenuation of electromagnetic signals in water, which limits satellite altimetry to low-resolution approximations. In recent years, high-endurance autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) equipped with multi-beam swath bathymetry systems and synthetic aperture sonars have revolutionized oceanic cartography. Navigating untethered along pre-programmed trajectory grids hundreds of meters above the seafloor, AUVs record sub-meter bathymetric topography, identify manganese nodule distributions, and detect sub-seafloor hydrothermal circulation with unprecedented accuracy.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Multi-beam swath bathymetry and synthetic aperture sonar
- Step 1: Scan the text for specific acoustic instrumentation and sensors mounted on modern AUVs.
- Step 2: The third sentence specifies that AUVs are "equipped with multi-beam swath bathymetry systems and synthetic aperture sonars" to conduct high-resolution oceanic cartography.
Answer
Multi-beam swath bathymetry and synthetic aperture sonar.
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