Predicting the Distribution and Properties of Buried Submarine Topography on Continental Shelves

: Long-term goals are to compile geological data and develop methods to predict the distribution and properties of features hypothesized to be responsible for sonar geoclutter. Geological structures just beneath the seafloor, such as steep-walled channels, may have high-angle reflecting surfaces that can return false sonar alarms to ships operating in the littoral zone. The major goal is to contribute to the reduction or mitigation of geologic clutter observed on fleet sonar systems. Two issues define the problem.