High-frequency acoustic propagation in the presence of ocean variability in KauaiEx | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore

High-frequency acoustic propagation in the presence of ocean variability in KauaiEx


Abstract:

Variability of physical ocean parameters can cause significant fluctuations of acoustic propagation in shallow water. In the Kauai experiment (KauaiEx) conducted during J...Show More

Abstract:

Variability of physical ocean parameters can cause significant fluctuations of acoustic propagation in shallow water. In the Kauai experiment (KauaiEx) conducted during June-July 2003, extensive acoustic measurements along with various environmental measurements were made using a variety of vertical line arrays and a bottom mounted sound source in a 100-m shallow water region near the Kauai Island, Hawaii. In this paper, acoustic signals recorded on three autonomous receiving arrays are studied against the measured environmental parameters. It is shown that high frequency acoustic propagation is affected by the temporal and spatial changes in the water column and the sea surface. It is also shown that the ocean variability impacts different arrival rays depending on their travel paths.
Published in: OCEANS 2007 - Europe
Date of Conference: 18-21 June 2007
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 17 September 2007
ISBN Information:
Conference Location: Aberdeen, UK

1. Introduction

Variability of ocean physical parameters can cause significant fluctuations in broadband acoustic signals propagating in shallow water. Arrival time, arrival angle, and energy of a particular acoustic wave front depend on sound speed and current variability of the ocean through which the ray passes as well as on roughness of the ocean boundaries off which the ray reflects or scatters. To study ocean variability effects on high frequency acoustic wave propagation, a highly calibrated experiment (KauaiEx) was conducted during the summer 2003 at a shallow water location near the Kauai Island, Hawaii [1]. The main goal of this experiment was to study the environmental effects on intensity and arrival-time variations of acoustic signals in frequency range 8–50 kHz. Applications of this study relate to underwater acoustic communication in which the knowledge of the channel impulse response function is needed to help improve system performance. Parameters such as the temporal and spatial variability of the propagation path need to be understood from observation before predictive modeling could be attempted.

References

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