Total Backscatter

Backscatter is presented per unit volume (s_v) or area (ABC or s_a, NASC or s_A).  Do not use the dB scale for calculations.  Depending on survey objectives, these values may be sufficient for desired analyses.  Such analyses would include:

average water column backscatter;

average depth strata backscatter, or;

distribution of backscatter throughout sampling frame.