originally posted by auv-ee ...
It just seems like the areas of low pinger reception probability should have the highest priority for search.
Totally agree. For that reason, and subsequent to the SNA sonar reassessment, the SW corner and south of 3°N for about 12NM between 32 and 40NM from LKP falls into the category of rugged terrain. It is from the ridges, slopes and valleys in this not-so-deep area that the pinger signal could have radiated and was faintly detected by Emeraude.
We don't know when Emeraude visited the area, and consequently if it was late in the battery life, there could have been a marked drop in the pinger output level.
mm43