Underwater Acoustic Channels Characterization for Underwater Cognitive Acoustic Networks

This paper focuses on characterizing underwater acoustic (UWA) channels in the view of underwater cognitive acoustic networks. In the most recent years, underwater cognitive acoustic networks have attracted much attention in pace with that “digital ocean” is developing to “smart ocean”. Although there are some literatures have investigated the propagation characteristics of underwater acoustic channels in both common and specific environments, the research and consideration on channel characterization for underwater cognitive acoustic networks are still rare. In this paper, we firstly explore the unique propagation features of underwater acoustic channels, secondly analyze how the channel variations affect the cognitive communication and networks, thirdly investigate the constraints for cognitive networks brought by UWA channel, and lastly draw a modeling scheme with both physical layer and upper layer considerations for cognitive networks. Our proposed modeling scheme can be taken as reference channel model for underwater cognitive acoustic networking design.