Modelling Convergence Zone Propagation Under the Influence of Arctic Front

The ocean front will cause the sound velocity profile to change considerably within a short distance, and this has a significant impact on the underwater sound field. In this study, we investigate the influence of the Arctic front on underwater acoustic propagation. Hydrological data from seven stations, as measured in the course of China’s 8th Arctic scientific investigation, over a distance of 300 km in the Nordic Sea are used to carry out simulations using the Bellhop model. The results show that the Arctic front changes the characteristics of the convergence zone, including distance, width and the number of convergence zones, within a fixed distance. With the absence of ice in this area, these changes are closely related to the depth of the sound source, but not to the frequency.