Biological sound scattering studies

Abstract

De1-ailed knowledge of a variety of oceanographic parameters is required to fully understand the effect of the ocean environment on sound transmission. One parameter which significantly influences sound propagation is the backscattering or volume reverberation caused by marine organisms. The Naval Oceanographic Office is conducting an interdisciplinary research program to investigate the scattering of sound by marine organisms; in particular, this effort includes studies to determine the acoustic, biological and oceanographic properties of sound scattering layers, as well as the relationships between these properties. This report is the first of several concerning the results of biological studies being conducted to investigate volume reverberation in the ocean.