The bulk of the pollutants accumulate in marine sediments. Hence the importance of the problem of the continuous monitoring of the state of the bottom and the bottom of sedimentary structures of inland waters and seas. The paper presents a method of remote sensing bottom soil to determine the speed of sound in the bottom ground. The proposed method allows to carry out measurements at the joint location of the emitter and receiver. The proposed method is a method of beam parameter. For measurements by the method of beam parameter must either have extended the receiving antenna system capable to determine the direction of arrival of the reflected acoustic signals from the bottom with a simple omnidirectional radiator or emit highly directional sound source and relatively easy to take an extended receiving antenna. Using parametric array can be formed acoustic beam width several degrees. This beam width is sufficient to implement the method of beam parameter. The authors have proposed an approximate method of beam parameter allows you to combine the location of the transmitter and the receiver, thus greatly simplifying the receiving antenna. To test the adequacy of the method was carried out modeling and experimental studies. In the simulation, the real parameters laid marine bottom of the layered structure and foster and radiating systems. As a result of the simulation were defined the limits of applicability of the proposed method in the study of marine soils. To determine the velocity of sound in the sea bed sediments with acceptable accuracy must emit acoustic signals at an angle less than 10 degrees. Experimental studies in acoustic basin showed qualitative agreement with the theoretical findings.

Keywords: remote sensing acoustic, classification of marine sediments, parametric profiler