Acoustic communication in deep water exploiting multiple beams with a horizontal array

A recent experiment showed that coherent long-range acoustic communication (200-300?Hz) is feasible in deep water over a ～550-km range between a source and a horizontal towed array (～100?m aperture). The low input signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (e.g., -10?dB) at an element level required conventional beamforming to enhance the SNR of the communication signals for subsequent channel equalization and decoding. This paper demonstrates that with a larger aperture (～200?m), multiple adjacent beams can be exploited to further improve the communication performance, achieving an almost error-free data rate of 100 bits/s for QPSK modulation at ～550?km range.     

Long-range acoustic communication in deep water using a towed array

In September 2010 a long-range acoustic communication (LRAC10) experiment was carried out in deep water off the Southern California Coast. The experiment involved two mobile components: (1) a source towed slowly at a speed of 2-3 knots at ～75-m depth and (2) a horizontal line array towed at 3.5 knots at a depth of ～200 m. Phase-coherent communication sequences were transmitted in the frequency band of 200-300 Hz at various ranges (100-700 km). Initial analysis of the LRAC10 data demonstrates that an information rate of 50 bits/s can be achieved over ～550-km range using quadrature-phase shift-keying (QPSK) modulation and error-correction coding combined with beamforming.     

Long-range multi-carrier acoustic communication in deep water using a towed horizontal array

During a recent long-range acoustic communication experiment carried out in deep water, multi-carrier Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication signals were transmitted with a 50 Hz bandwidth (225-275 Hz) at various source-receiver ranges from 100 to 700 km. The experiment consisted of two mobile components: (1) a source towed slowly at a speed of 2-3 knots at ～75 m depth and (2) a horizontal line array towed at 3.5 knots at a depth of ～200 m. In addition to beamforming, an interleaver gain is exploited to compensate for low signal-to-noise ratio at the expense of data rate while providing diversity in the frequency domain. Error-free performance is shown at effective data rates of 15 and 7.5 bits/s at ranges of 550 km and 700 km, respectively, by combining interleaved repetitions with low-density parity-check coding after beamforming, demonstrating the feasibility of multi-carrier OFDM communications in deep water using a towed horizontal array.     

Space-time and frequency-phase stability of the acoustic field in the underwater sound channel

The space-time and frequency-phase stability of the acoustic field is studied for the case of long-range propagation in the underwater sound channel. The possibility of splitting the field components produced by the Doppler effect in the total interference structure of a monochromatic signal is revealed for different ranges, parameters of the channel inhomogeneities, and frequencies. The experiments are performed in summertime in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, near the Kamchatka Peninsula, on a path of 2100 km. Highly stable sound sources with resonant frequencies of 230 and 380 Hz are used for the measurements. The sources are towed at a depth of 70 m with a speed of 5–6 knots. To receive the signal near the channel axis, a bottom-moored (at a depth of 200 m) stationary system is used. The width of the sound beams is studied, and the broadening limits of the frequency spectra are estimated for the coherent and incoherent field components in the case of super-long-range sound propagation. The phase velocities of the split components are determined.     

深海海底反射会聚区声传播特性

在深海声道条件下,海水折射效应会使得声场出现会聚效应;在不完全声道条件下,深海海底对声场具有重要影响.利用在中国南海海域收集到的一次深海声传播实验数据,研究了深海不完全声道环境下的海底反射对声传播的影响.实验观测到不同于深海会聚区的海底反射会聚现象,在直达声区范围内的海底地形隆起可导致海底反射会聚区提前形成,并使得部分影区的声强明显提高.由于不平坦海底和海面的反射破坏了完全声道环境下的会聚区结构,在60 km范围内存在两个海底反射会聚区,会聚区增益可达10 dB以上,同时在11 km附近的影区和51 km附近形成高声强区域.当接收深度与声源深度相同时,第二会聚区的增益高于第一会聚区.在第一会聚区内,随着接收深度的增加,声线到达结构趋于复杂,多途效应更加明显.使用抛物方程数值分析结合射线理论对深海海底反射会聚区现象产生的物理原因进行了分析解释.研究结果对于声纳在深海复杂环境下的性能分析具有重要的指导意义.     

Estimated source intensity and active space of the American alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis) vocal display

In this article the results are reported of a study to measure the intensity of the vocal displays of a population of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). It was found that the dominant frequencies in air range between 20 and 250 Hz with a source sound pressure level (SPL) of 91-94 dB at 1 m. The active space for the air-borne component is defined by the background and was estimated to be in a range up to 159 m in the 125-200 Hz band. For the water-borne component the dominant frequency range was 20-100 Hz with a source SPL of 121-125 dB at 1 m. The active space in water is defined by hearing thresholds and was estimated to range up to 1.5 km in the 63-100 Hz band. In the lowest frequency bands, i.e., 16-50 Hz, the estimated active space for otolith detection of near-field particle motion in water ranged to 80 m, which compared significantly with far-field detection for these frequencies. It is suggested that alligator vocal communication may involve two distinct sensory mechanisms which may subserve the functions of scene analysis and reproduction, respectively.     

浅海非均匀水平阵宽带声场信号无源孔径扩展

大孔径水平阵对于浅海低频水声物理实验研究和应用至关重要,然而受实际情况制约,通常使用的水平基阵孔径十分有限,通过孔径扩展处理来扩展基阵孔径是一条重要途径。传统的无源孔径扩展方法是建立在均匀线阵、匀速相对运动和相干窄带连续信号的基础上的,难以适用于非均匀阵以及非连续宽带声源的情况。针对这些问题,提出了非均匀阵宽带声场信号的无源孔径扩展方法。使用静止布设在海底的非均匀水平短阵接收运动声源重复发射的宽带声信号,先开展均匀空间插值,然后在阵元域和波束域进行宽带扩展孔径处理。仿真和实验结果表明,在水深约70 m的浅海波导环境中,纵向间隔27.5 m的2个阵元接收20~200 Hz宽带声场,其空间插值结果与真值的相关系数大于0.99,说明宽带声场插值方法的合理性。在水平非均匀、纵向孔径250 m的短阵接收声场无法分析简正波频散特征的情况下,仿真和实验数据经过宽带无源孔径扩展处理得到孔径大于1 km的均匀线阵的声场,能高分辨区分各阶简正波,证明所提方法是有效的。      

Blue and fin whale call source levels and propagation range in the Southern Ocean

Blue (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin whales (B. physalus) produce high-intensity, low-frequency calls, which probably function for communication during mating and feeding. The source levels of blue and fin whale calls off the Western Antarctic Peninsula were calculated using recordings made with calibrated, bottom-moored hydrophones. Blue whales were located up to a range of 200 km using hyperbolic localization and time difference of arrival. The distance to fin whales, estimated using multipath arrivals of their calls, was up to 56 km. The error in range measurements was 3.8 km using hyperbolic localization, and 3.4 km using multipath arrivals. Both species produced high-intensity calls; the average blue whale call source level was 189+/-3 dB re:1 microPa-1 m over 25-29 Hz, and the average fin whale call source level was 189+/-4 dB re:1 microPa-1 m over 15-28 Hz. Blue and fin whale populations in the Southern Ocean have remained at low numbers for decades since they became protected; using source level and detection range from passive acoustic recordings can help in calculating the relative density of calling whales.     

陆架斜坡海域上坡波导环境中声能量急剧下降现象及其定量分析

深度较浅的声源其辐射声波在陆架斜坡海域上坡传播时,在斜坡顶端会出现声能量急剧下降现象.利用射线声学模型分析了造成这一现象的原因,并根据抛物方程声场模型计算的深海和浅海平均传播损失定义了"声能量急剧下降距离",定量分析了声源位置对该现象的影响.结果表明:声源深度对"声能量急剧下降距离"影响较大,而声源与斜坡底端水平距离对其影响较小;当声源深度变大时,部分掠射角较小的声线最终能够达到斜坡顶端,致使"声能量急剧下降距离"增大,继续增加声源深度,将导致上坡声能量急剧下降现象消失.利用抛物方程声场模型对陆架斜坡海域上坡声传播进行数值仿真,结合"声能量急剧下降距离"的定义,计算并比较了声源位置不同时该距离的变化,数值计算结果验证了理论分析.     

Detection of Blainville’s beaked whales with towed arrays

The detection performance of a towed hydrophone array for deep-diving species is quantified by comparing detections of echolocation clicks from foraging groups of Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) from the TNO Delphinus array to detections from bottom-mounted hydrophones at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in the Bahamas. A beaked whale group detection probability of 40% is obtained at close ranges (R < 2000 m) with the Delphinus towed array, and a maximum detection range of 5000 m is measured. The detection function can be explained by models, when taking into account the range in rms source levels (200-220 dB re 1 μPa² m²), and the high system noise levels during the experiment. The model results suggest that detection ranges up to about 7 km are possible under favourable conditions, and demonstrate the effectiveness of using towed arrays to monitor deep-diving species, such as beaked whales.     

Seismic properties of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) vocalizations and locomotion

Seismic and acoustic data were recorded simultaneously from Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) during periods of vocalizations and locomotion. Acoustic and seismic signals from rumbles were highly correlated at near and far distances and were in phase near the elephant and were out of phase at an increased distance from the elephant. Data analyses indicated that elephant generated signals associated with rumbles and "foot stomps" propagated at different velocities in the two media, the acoustic signals traveling at 309 m/s and the seismic signals at 248-264 m/s. Both types of signals had predominant frequencies in the range of 20 Hz. Seismic signal amplitudes considerably above background noise were recorded at 40 m from the generating elephants for both the rumble and the stomp. Seismic propagation models suggest that seismic waveforms from vocalizations are potentially detectable by instruments at distances of up to 16 km, and up to 32 km for locomotion generated signals. Thus, if detectable by elephants, these seismic signals could be useful for long distance communication.     

矩形晶格高偏振、低损耗铋锗镓光子晶体光纤的结构设计及性能分析

非对称结构光子晶体光纤应用广泛。其良好的偏振特性、灵活的色散调控能力以及低限制损耗品质,对于优化与改善偏振光纤器件、非线性光学光纤、光通信光纤、光纤传感器等性能发挥着关键的作用。选用高折射率铋锗镓激光玻璃为材料,设计了八边形阵列、矩形晶格排列的光子晶体光纤,纤芯缺陷区包层及外包层均为圆形空气孔。模拟实验数据显示,结构参数为M=0.5,0.6时,在波长为1.55 μm处的双折射系数分别为1.16×10?2和1.33×10?2;在近红外波段短波区,矩形晶格结构光子晶体光纤的色散范围分别在±30 ps·nm?1·km?1之间及?18～32 ps·nm?1·km?1之间。色散斜率较低,曲线具有零色散点,展现了良好的连续谱调控能力;在1.00～1.90 μm波段内,当M=0.5,0.6时,光纤限制损耗稳定在10?7～10?9 dB·km?1之间;在1.55 μm处,限制损耗测量值分别为2.32×10?7和1.62×10?8 dB·km?1。     

Energy characteristics of the sound fields in the Barents Sea

Experimental studies of the intensity structure of the sound field in the Barents Sea were carried out. The signal propagation path was ～80 km in length, and the sea depth was ～220–250 m. Pseudonoise signals generated in one-third-octave frequency bands with central frequencies of 1.25 and 3.15 kHz were used. The sound source was positioned at two different points: in the subsurface layer at a depth of 10 m and under the discontinuity layer at a depth of 100 m. The reception depths were 15, 100, and 200 m. The experimental results were compared with the results of ray calculations taking into account the wind waves and the parameters of the ground at the bottom. The latter parameters were obtained by classifying the data available from the literature. As a result of the analysis, a fundamental possibility was demonstrated to predict the intensity characteristics of the field structure in a shallow sea with allowance for the depth dependence of sound velocity and the parameters of the waveguide boundaries.     

Spatial extension of the acoustic time reversal region

According to the data of a full-scale shallow-water experiment (in the Barents Sea, at sea depths of about 120 m), a considerable gain in the signal-to-noise ratio is obtained for an acoustic signal received from a source at a distance of 12 km when matching with the medium is performed by the signal from the same source at a distance of 10.5 km. To interpret this experimental fact, a numerical simulation is performed to determine the size of the region of signal focusing due to the time reversal of waves in an ideal waveguide with a soft bottom. It is shown that, for narrowband signals, within a distance of ±5 km along the path from the point of emission of the reversed signal, a regular interference pattern whose maxima are comparable with the principal maximum is observed throughout the whole waveguide depth. For a spectrum width from 100 to 300 Hz, only the principle maximum with an extension of about 100 m is observed at a single depth.     

Measurements and predictions of hooded crow (Corvus corone cornix) call propagation over open field habitats

In a study of hooded crow communication over open fields an excellent correspondence is found between the attenuation spectra predicted by a "turbulence-modified ground effect plus atmospheric absorption" model, and crow call attenuation data. Sound propagation predictions and background noise measurements are used to predict an optimal frequency range for communication ("sound communication window") from an average of crow call spectra predicted for every possible combination of the sender/receiver separations 300, 600, 900, and 1200 m and heights 3,6,9 m thereby creating a matrix assumed relevant to crow interterritorial communication. These predictions indicate an optimal frequency range for sound communication between 500 Hz and 2 kHz. Since this corresponds to the frequency range in which crow calls have their main energy and crow hearing in noise is particularly sensitive, it suggests a specific adaptation to the ground effect. Sound propagation predictions, together with background noise measurements and hearing data, are used to estimate the radius of the hooded crow active space. This is found to be roughly 1 km in moderately windy conditions. It is concluded that the propagation modeling of the sort introduced here could be used for assessing the impact of human noise on animal communication.     

Bottom parameter behavior in shallow water

This paper discusses the matched field processing behavior of key geoacoustic parameters as a function of frequency (25-100 Hz), range (250 m-2 km), and sediment layer thickness (12, 22, 40 m with scenarios corresponding to possible Shallow Water'06 tests) in a systematic manner for simulated data. It considers ideal, as well as approximate knowledge of other conditions, such as source depth, phone depth, and an ocean sound-speed profile. Some of these approximations cause more trouble than others, but they are all still manageable at the low frequencies and short ranges of interest here. A single layer sediment is always assumed here, as is a vertical array and range independence. However, the approach is easily adaptable to other situations. Finally, we introduce a new way of processing broadband information and find that averaging over all available frequencies and ranges may not be optimal for maximizing sensitivity to, e.g., finding, geoacoustic parameters.     

Measurement of the parameters of the natural waveguide mode

The possibilities of using the decomposition of natural waveguide modes in a shallow-water sea in case there is a sound velocity gradient into sinusoidal modes of an ideal waveguide is grounded. The applicability range of such decomposition is shown. Dispersion in signals of the modes presented in such a way is determined by mathematical reversal without a test source. The structure of discrete modes in a natural waveguide is determined without utilizing the bottom parameters and sound velocity’s distribution over the waveguide depth. The coefficient of the mode signal’s correlation with the measured parameters of the mode signal and a real signal, introduced into it, is shown to be 0.973. The signals from a point emitter positioned at the depth of 50 m in the frequency range of 90–280 Hz in a shallow-water sea (the Barents Sea, a 120 m depth, a 7 km distance), received by a vertical antenna array comprising 32 receivers spaced equidistantly with a 3-m step are used in the experiment. A real signal has been successfully reversed using a mathematical model.     

Characteristics of the reverberation signal at a vertical array with tonal insonification of a shallow-water basin

The angular and spectral characteristics of reverberation signals on a fixed path are studied by using vertical receiving arrays with a tonal insonification of the basin. The choice of the frequency range F ～ 200–300 Hz is caused, first, by the low propagation loss and the availability of high-power acoustic transducers for this range and, second, by the possibility to study the phenomena of sound scattering by the sea surface for comparable wavelengths of surface and acoustic waves. The data of experiments on two paths are considered: the first path is in the Barents Sea with propagation conditions corresponding to a uniform waveguide with sea depths H ～ 110–120 m, whereas the second path is in the White Sea with propagation conditions corresponding to a nonuniform waveguide where the sea depth varies from 30 to 250 m.     

Long-range time reversal communication in deep water: experimental results

In December 2011 a long-range acoustic communication experiment was conducted in deep water, west of Izu-Ogasawara Islands, Japan. The experiment involved a stationary source (450-550 Hz) and an 18-element vertical array (102-m aperture), both deployed at around the sound channel axis. Initial analysis of data demonstrates that a data rate of 400 bits/s can be achieved over ~600-km range in deep water using 16 quadrature amplitude modulation and passive time reversal equalization.