Effect of random hydrodynamic inhomogeneities on low frequency sound propagation loss in shallow water

Low frequency (100–500 Hz) sound propagation loss on the US Atlantic continental shelf and in the Barents Sea in the presence of stochastic surface waves, and for the US Atlantic shelf also in the presence of internal waves, is studied for the range of up to 150 km by means of numerical simulations. Qualitative difference between sound propagation loss behavior on the US Atlantic shelf and in the Barents Sea is demonstrated for summertime conditions even without random inhomogeneities. It is shown that whereas internal waves have a weak effect on propagation loss, surface waves result in its considerable increase in both areas under wintertime conditions with a wind speed of more than 9 m/s.     

Underwater sounds of the Pacific Ocean in the shelf zone of Shikotan Island

Results of underwater sounds measurement in the Shikotan’s shelf zone of the Pacific Ocean at the depth of 130 m in the range of frequencies 1.9–11000 Hz at the wind velocity from 0 to 40 m/s are presented. The statistic non-linear relation between the variations of the underwater sound levels and wind velocities has been revealed. Data on biological, seismic, as well as the sounds of rain and ice of this region are presented.     

The effect of internal waves on the sound propagation in the shelf zone of the sea of Japan in different seasons

Results of the observation of seasonal variations in the vertical distribution of water temperature in the shelf zone of the Sea of Japan are presented, and the effect of this variability on the parameters of internal waves and on sound propagation is studied. The measurements were carried out in different seasons using a vertical acoustical-hydrophysical measuring system. The propagation of sound (tone and noise signals) was studied on a 510-m-long track at a constant depth of 38 m. Using a self-contained resonance (320 Hz) transmitter of the electromagnetic type, which was bottom-moored at a depth of 65 m, a 10.6-km-long stationary acoustic track crossing the shelf was set up. During the in-sea experiments, the spatial characteristics of internal waves were measured along with the distributions of temperature, salinity, sound velocity, and sea level variations.     

Phase fluctuations of focused low-frequency sound fields in shallow water

Numerical experiments are carried out to study the phase fluctuations of a focused low-frequency sound field on an oceanic shelf. The focusing of sound at a distance of several kilometers is simulated using the phase conjugation of sound waves. Perturbations of the medium are represented by high-frequency (>1 cph) background internal waves and by the wind waves on the ocean surface. It is shown that, for a focused sound field at frequencies of several hundreds of hertz, the phase fluctuations do not exceed π and can be measured against the background of acoustic noise typical of shallow-water regions of the ocean. The fluctuation magnitude can be reduced approximately by half through the optimal choice of the mode composition. In the presence of such fluctuations, it is possible to measure the relative variations of the length of a stationary acoustic path with an accuracy of 1 m or better at a wind speed no greater than 10 m/s and a typical intensity of background internal waves.     

The sound speed in southern deepwater zone of the Caspian Sea,off Anzali Port

Sound velocity determination in seawater is a key component of modern hydrographic surveying; however, little data exists on sound velocity characteristics of the southern Caspian Sea. Hence, a study was undertaken in 2008 to examine the seasonal variability of sound speed in deep-waters of the South Caspian Sea near the Iranian coast. The seasonal cycle of seawater temperature and thermal stratification in the Caspian Sea water created a wide range of spatial and temporal changes of sound speed with relevant differences between shallow water (over the continental shelf) and deep-water area. The collected data showed that seasonal variations of the sound speed were most important in the upper 100 m water depth, while below this level that is in deepwater the changes were small. The maximum values of sound speed were observed at the surface in midsummer around 1517–1519 m s⁻¹ over the continental shelf while the speed of sound was about 1453 m s⁻¹ between 450–470 m depths with no major seasonal variations. Variations in vertical structure of the sound speed were in agreement with temperature changes, while effects of the salinity on the sound speed were little.     

Effect of internal tides on slow energy fluctuations of impulse signals in an experiment on a long-distance stationary path

Temporal energy fluctuations of impuse signals generated by powerful explosive sources of sound are considered by using the experimental data obtained on a long-distance stationary path in the northwestern Pacific. The signals were received on the Kamchatka shelf (a characteristic ocean depth of about 200 m) at two points spaced by 115 km in the latitudinal direction, one of the reception points being located on the shelf far from its edge, and the other, on the shelf edge. The signal radiation was performed in the deep ocean, at a distance of about 1000 km from the shelf edge. Charges were exploded every hour for more than five days. The frequency-dependent energy fluctuations of the signals and those of the first mode alone were measured in the frequency range 10–80 Hz. It is shown that the amplitudes of energy fluctuations of the first mode in narrow bands can exceed 10 dB and make the main contribution to the energy fluctuations of the total signal. The maximum energy of the first mode is reached on the high tide. It is hypothesized that internal tide-induced variations of the sound velocity field on the shelf affect the degree of energy interaction between the first mode and the bottom.     

Vertical variability of sound fields in a coastal wedge

The results of measuring the vertical variability of sound fields are presented for a coastal wedge off the Pacific shelf of the Kamchatka peninsula. It is shown that the vertical radius of sound field correlation can reach ～30 m for frequencies within 600–800 Hz. The scatter of the specific parameters of the variability is in rather wide limits depending on the location of a vertical chain of receiving hydrophones, the hydrological conditions, the azimuth angle of the sound source, and the relief and bottom structure of the coastal wedge.     

Measurement of the sound velocity in fluids using the echo signals from scattering particles

With conventional methods the sound velocity c in fluids can be determined using the back wall echo. This paper proposes a novel technique, in which the signals reflected by scattering particles suspended in a fluid are analysed instead. The basic idea is that the particles generate the strongest echo signal when being located in the sound field maximum. Therefore the position of the echo signal maximum is a measure for the propagation time to the sound field maximum. Provided that calibration data or sound field simulations for the ultrasonic transducer are available, this propagation time suffices to determine both sound velocity and the location of the sound field maximum. The feasibility of the new approach is demonstrated by different kinds of experiments: (i) Measurements of the sound velocity c in four fluids covering the wide range between 1116 and 2740 m/s. The results show good agreement with values published elsewhere. (ii) Using the dependence of the sound velocity on temperature, it is possible to vary c over the comparatively small range between 1431 and 1555 m/s with increments of less than 10 m/s. The measured statistical variation of 1.4 m/s corresponds to a relative uncertainty not worse than 0.1%. (iii) The focus position, i.e. the distance of the maximum of the sound field from the transducer, was varied by time-shifted superposition of the receive signals belonging to the different elements of an annular array. The results indicate that the novel method is even capable of measuring profiles of the sound velocity along the ultrasonic beam non-invasively.     

Effect of tide on sound propagation in the shelf zone of the Sea of Japan

Experimental and numerical studies of the effect of surface and internal tides on 315-Hz sound waves propagating along fixed paths, 260 m to 23 km in lengths, oriented across the shelf of the Sea of Japan, are discussed. The measurements are performed using self-contained radio-hydroacoustic receiving stations, which are equipped with hydrophones and scalar-vector receivers, and two vertical acoustic-hydrophysical measuring systems. For the sound signals propagating along the longer paths, the intensity fluctuations are shown to loose their linear relation to the tide-caused changes in the waveguide parameters because of the refraction by the sound speed inhomogeneities induced by different hydrodynamic processes. However, it is established that the phase variations can serve as quantitative indicators of the integral changes in the waveguide parameters.     

Spectral features of the water temperature and sound intensity variations measured on the shelf of the Sea of Japan

Results of a spectral analysis of the water temperature and sound intensity variations measured on stationary acoustic-hydrophysical tracks in the shelf zone of the Sea of Japan are presented. The measurements were carried out in different seasons with the use of equipment that included a vertical acoustic-hydrophysical measuring system, self-contained acoustic-hydrophysical radio buoys, and a self-contained electromagnetictype resonance (320 Hz) transmitter. Spectral features of temperature fluctuations caused by internal waves in a vertical water layer are studied, and their influence on the sound propagation is demonstrated on tracks of different lengths oriented along and across the shelf.     

浅海起伏海面下气泡层对声传播的影响

分析了起伏海面下风浪引起的气泡层对海面反射损失和对声传播的影响.一方面,气泡层会改变原来水中的声速剖面;另一方面,气泡层会对声波产生散射和吸收作用.考虑以上两方面的因素,分析了不同风速下气泡层对海面反射损失和声传播损失的影响,仿真发现,在风速大于10 m/s时,对于2 k Hz以上频率时气泡层对小掠射角下海面反射损失的影响不可忽视.在给定的水声环境中,当声源深度和接收深度都为7 m时,风速为16 m/s的风浪下生成的气泡层,在10 km处对3 k Hz的声传播损失的影响达到8.1 d B.当声源深度和接收深度都为18 m时,风速为16 m/s的风浪下生成的气泡层,在10 km处对3 k Hz的声传播损失的影响达到4 d B.     

水下翼型结构流噪声实验研究

为测量流激水下翼型结构的流噪声,提出了一种混响箱测量方法。在重力式水洞中搭建了一套实验测量系统,利用混响箱法测量了水下翼型结构模型的辐射声功率。在此基础上研究了流速及结构参数(厚度、肋、声学覆盖层)对其辐射声功率的影响。结果表明:当流速小于5 m/s时,辐射声功率随流速的6次方增长,符合偶极子的辐射规律;当流速大于5 m/s时,辐射声功率随流速的10土1次方规律增长,不再按偶极子的规律辐射;若对水下翼型结构模型加厚、加环肋及外部敷设黏弹性材料,均可在一定程度上抑制流噪声。此研究方法可对水下复杂结构的辐射声功率测量及结构优化设计提供一定的参考。      

Effect produced on sound propagation by an internal temperature front moving over the shelf

Results of observing the changes that occur in the vertical distribution of water temperature under the effect of an intense atmospheric cyclone and the influence of these changes on sound propagation in the shelf region of the Sea of Japan are presented. The measurement results refer to the autumn conditions. The measuring equipment includes a vertical acoustic-hydrophysical measuring system, a broadband transmitter (both of them being connected with the shore station by cable lines), and a self-contained resonance (320 Hz) transmitter of the electromagnetic type. The sound (tone signals) propagation is studied on a 510-m-long constant-depth (38 m) track (TON-310 Hz) and a 10.6-km-long track (TON-320 Hz), which is set up by placing the self-contained transmitter at the bottom (at a depth of 65 m). Results of field experiments are presented along with those of numerical simulation of the effect produced by an internal temperature front moving toward the coast and formed by the seasonal thermocline on the propagation of 320-Hz sound signals through it. It is shown that refraction and scattering of sound waves propagating through the temperature front moving along the acoustic track may cause intensity variations of acoustic field at the reception point, which occur synchronously at different depths and have amplitudes of up to 14 dB and a period of about 40 min.     

Frequency shifts of the sound field interference pattern in shallow water because of second-mode soliton-like internal waves

Numerical simulation is carried out to analyze the effect of an internal soliton of the second gravity mode on low-frequency sound propagation in an oceanic shelf region. The simulation is performed using the data of a full-scale experiment performed on the shelf of the South China Sea near Dongsha atoll, where the aforementioned solitons had been detected by stationary vertical thermistor arrays. The calculations take into account the effect of horizontal refraction of sound waves. It is assumed that a stationary acoustic track is oriented across the predominant propagation direction of internal waves. The results of simulation show that, when the soliton crosses the stationary track, some of the sound field modes are focused, whereas other modes are defocused. It is demonstrated that the soliton parameters can be adequately determined from the frequency shifts of the sound field interference pattern. However, such an estimate of the soliton parameters is only possible for a limited length of the stationary track for which the effect of horizontal refraction is sufficiently weak.     

抵消Wigner-Ville分布交叉项的窄带运动声源无源测速

利用声波的多普勒频移可以对窄带运动声源进行单传感器无源测速,其性能很大程度上取决于能否精确地估计出声波的瞬时频率.Wigner-Ville分布虽然时频分辨率高,但存在交叉项干扰,很少被直接用于瞬时频率估计。对此,提出了抵消Wigner-Ville分布交叉项的单传感器窄带声源无源测速方法。利用交叉项与声源速度的关系构造一个抵消项,引入到Wigner-Ville分布中,通过对声源速度估计值进行迭代更新,使抵消项与交叉项相位相反,从而约掉交叉项。经实测噪声数据验证,对一辆以6.07 m/s匀速运动的卡车(信噪比约为29 dB)测速误差为0.1 m/s,运行时间为4.6 s,对一架以28.90 m/s匀速运动的直升机(信噪比约为16 dB)测速误差为0.46 m/s,运行时间为1.2 s,均优于匹配Wigner变换和多普勒线性调频小波变换测速方法.      

Evaluation of the vibrational modes of the human skull as it relates to bone-conducted sound

Analytic and numerical models are used to study bone-conducted sound and how it relates to the vibrational modes of the human skull. The analytic model is based on the solution to the acoustic and elastic wave equations and the constraining boundary conditions for a fluid-filled elastic sphere. Both models predict that most of the acoustic energy of bone-conducted sound exists in the form of surface wave vibrations at the interface between two acoustic media rather than in the bone or cranial chamber. These surface waves have phase speeds much slower than the bulk sound speed for bone. The analytic model, based on spherical elastic shells, predicts a phase speed of 775 m/s and the first resonance frequency at 1500 Hz while the numerical solution yields approximate phase speeds of 450 m/s and provides a visual display of the surface waves and diffraction effects.     

Analysis of an early measurement of the speed of sound propagation in the atmosphere

Spanish and French scientists made a determination of the speed of sound close to Quito (Ecuador) in 1738. There was a particular interest in this measurement at that time because it was thought that the proximity of the Equator and the great altitude would have a major influence on this magnitude. The difference in time between the perceptions of the flash of a gunshot and of the corresponding sound was measured at two different sites. At one of them, Jorge Juan and Louis Godin obtained a value of 341 m/s for the speed of sound, and at the other, Antonio de Ulloa and Pierre Bouguer deduced a value of 348 m/s. Juan and Ulloa published these experiments in their book “Observaciones Astronomicas y Phisicas” (1748). They also presented possible applications of these studies of sound propagation to geometry, navigation, and warfare.     

Experimental studies of pulsed signal propagation from the shelf to deep sea

Results of an experimental study of low-frequency broadband pulsed signal propagation in a waveguide that includes the shelf zone, the continental slope, and the deep sea region are presented. Using phase-manipulated signals with central frequencies of 366 and 600 Hz, pulsed characteristics are measured at six points along the propagation track, the maximal distance from the source being 368 km. It is experimentally demonstrated that, in the presence of a negative sound velocity gradient in the near bottom layer on the shelf with a small bottom slope, the choice of the source position at the shelf bottom near the shoreline provides the formation of a continuous illumination zone in the deep sea near the USC axis and a stable pulsed characteristic with two main sound energy arrivals. The propagation velocity of the pulse that is last to arrive is identical (within the measurement error) to the velocity of sound on the USC axis at the point of reception. Possibilities for practical application of the results obtained from the experiment are discussed.     

Sound attenuation in a random waveguide when using a radiating system with different patterns of directivity

Using numerical simulations of sound propagation on Russia’s shallow Arctic shelf, low frequency sound attenuation is analyzed for acoustic sources with different patterns of directivity, i.e., vertical discrete radiating arrays of different length. It is shown that sound attenuation depends largely on the parameters of patterns of directivity and the intensity of surface waves even at short ranges r from a source (r < 250H, where H is the waveguide depth).     

Observationally constrained modeling of sound in curved ocean internal waves: examination of deep ducting and surface ducting at short range

A study of 400 Hz sound focusing and ducting effects in a packet of curved nonlinear internal waves in shallow water is presented. Sound propagation roughly along the crests of the waves is simulated with a three-dimensional parabolic equation computational code, and the results are compared to measured propagation along fixed 3 and 6 km source/receiver paths. The measurements were made on the shelf of the South China Sea northeast of Tung-Sha Island. Construction of the time-varying three-dimensional sound-speed fields used in the modeling simulations was guided by environmental data collected concurrently with the acoustic data. Computed three-dimensional propagation results compare well with field observations. The simulations allow identification of time-dependent sound forward scattering and ducting processes within the curved internal gravity waves. Strong acoustic intensity enhancement was observed during passage of high-amplitude nonlinear waves over the source/receiver paths, and is replicated in the model. The waves were typical of the region (35 m vertical displacement). Two types of ducting are found in the model, which occur asynchronously. One type is three-dimensional modal trapping in deep ducts within the wave crests (shallow thermocline zones). The second type is surface ducting within the wave troughs (deep thermocline zones).