CW and CHIRP signals bottom backscattering in the PEZ of the Baltic sea

High-frequency bottom backscattering experiments were carried out in the Polish Economy Zone of the Southern Baltic Sea. CW and chirp signals were used to determine scattering reverberation as a function of the incident wave grazing angle and at vertical sounding. The chirp signals covered the frequency range from 40 to 80 kHz whilst the CW signals were selected at 40, 60 and 80 kHz. Acoustic data concerning the angular dependence of the backscattering were taken at the points where appropriate investigations of sediment properties had been earlier made by the Polish Geology Institute. The sediment types include not only acoustically hard fine and coarse sand bottom covered with gravel but also a flat muddy bottom. The results present the backscattering as a function of frequency, signal type and sediments properties. Times of reverberation and other statistical properties of returned signal are also discussed. When possible, due to more complete information on the sediments properties the measured backscattering strength was compared to the models developed by Jackson et al.