Although high correlation exists between oceanic ambient sound and wind speed and rain rate, the sound generation mechanisms remain obscure. This is due partly to the difficulty of simultaneously measuring the sound-generating phenomena at the location of the acoustic measurements. Also, there is a lack of frequency spectra of sound generated by the specific sources that may distinguish between wind- and rain (or spray)-generated sound and may hold important clues to the generating mechanisms. A pier facility was established on Narragansett Bay to monitor broadband sound associated with observed sea surface phenomena. Simultaneous recording of wind velocity, wave height, and rain rate allows precise comparison of the environmental variables with their acoustic response. In addition, visual observation is made of whitecapping and of interfering ship traffic. The ambient sound spectra are routinely generated as high-resolution FFT estimates on a MASSCOMP computer. Preliminary measurements show sound pressure to vary linearly with wind speed, with correlations ranging from 0.88–0.97. The slope changes around wind speeds of 6–7 m/s, i.e., where whitecaps form, The spectra of wind-generated sound display a faster roll-off than rain-produced sound, the latter exhibiting a broad peak around 15–18 kHz. Plots are presented of the intense insonification of the water column by rapidly advecting rain squalls. [Work supported by NAVSEA/AIRSEA systems commands.]
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