ushumgal;
The answer to your question is hidden a few pages back in this thread
Post #792 and
www.searchforamelia.org, but put simply, the resolution is relative to the scanning frequency and distance from target. A related post on using CHIRP technologies to enhance spatial resolution is at
Post #799.
The following is from a post I made to the the original AF447 thread (now languishing in the Tech Log), and gives you a realistic view of what was achieved 8 years ago, but bear in mind that the resolution of the sidescan sonar doing the initial search is lower, but still high enough to detect engine cores and anything bigger, e.g wings/fuselage sections.
The effectiveness of multibeam sonar in detecting specific parts of the debris is not doubted. C & C Technologies, Inc. Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) can operate at a depth of 4,500m and the resolution of the multibeam sonar in 2002 produced the following for the BBC of wreckage of a Fairey Swordfish Mk1 and a Hangar Lift Deck which parted company with HMS "Ark Royal" when it sunk in 1066m of water in 1941.
The yellow and cyan description/text has been added by me.
For good measure, here is a photo of a Fairey Swordfish ("Stringbag") on a Royal Navy carrier deck.
Finding one large part, will lead to finding the rest. So, if the debris field is a little
larger than is currently being talked about, that
increases the chances of it being found in the search mode.
Edit: added links to previous posts and to Search for Amelia
mm43