def sonar_sweep(rows):
    """
    counts the number of entries that have a higher value than the previous

    :param rows: list of depth values
    :type rows: list

    :return: number of entries in rows that have a higher value than the previous
    :rtype: int
    """

    current_depth = None
    depth_increases = 0
    for row in rows:
        row = int(row)
        if not current_depth:
            pass
        elif row > current_depth:
            depth_increases += 1
        current_depth = row

    return depth_increases