Estimating Sound Exposure Levels Due to a Broadband Source over Large Areas of Shallow Sea

Abstract

3D sound propagation modeling in the context of acoustic noise monitoring problems is considered. A technique of effective source spectrum reconstruction from a reference single-hydrophone measurement is discussed, and the procedure of simulation of sound exposure level (SEL) distribution over a large sea area is described. The proposed technique is also used for the modeling of pulse signal waveforms at other receiver locations, and results of a direct comparison with the pulses observed in the experimental data is presented.

Modeling Techniques for Underwater Acoustic Scattering and Propagation (Including 3D Effects)

“…This study once again highlights the need in accurate and efficient 3D models for the solution of everyday practical problems of ocean acoustics. Similar conclusion can be drawn from the paper [10], where the authors show that 3D effects are important for the estimation of noise levels in shallow-water environments.…”

“…Papers of the second type are related to applications of underwater acoustics where the models of sound propagation play a significant role [8][9][10][11]. These include geoacoustic inversion [9], source-bearing estimation [8], a technique that allows one to estimate both the source position and the media properties [11], and the problem of estimating the acoustic noise levels over some water areas neighbouring the source [10].…”

“…Papers of the second type are related to applications of underwater acoustics where the models of sound propagation play a significant role [8][9][10][11]. These include geoacoustic inversion [9], source-bearing estimation [8], a technique that allows one to estimate both the source position and the media properties [11], and the problem of estimating the acoustic noise levels over some water areas neighbouring the source [10]. For example, the novel geoacoustic inversion technique from [9] requires the precise calculation of ray paths (which is performed using the BELLHOP code) that are necessary to estimate travel times of head waves.…”

“…Finally, in [12], the mode perturbation theory developed by the authors is used to improve the performance of 3D propagation codes that require multiple solutions of the acoustic spectral problem. In particular, the perturbative formulae from [12] are important for computationally efficient implementation of the numerical techniques based on the mode parabolic equations [10].…”

Mesh Optimization for the Acoustic Parabolic Equation

“…These include remote sensing of the movement of ships and marine life [32], as well as determination of their characteristics [33]. Computer modeling is used to characterize sea currents and the seabed [34], and for estimating the global noise level from shipping and its impact on the world's oceans [35,36]. The OALIB web resource [37] contains a large number of computational hydroacoustics methods software implementations, experimental data and other useful materials on the specified topic.…”