Shallow Water Propagation

Abstract

LONG-TERM GOALSDevelop methods for deterministic and stochastic acoustic calculations in complex shallow water environments, specify their capabilities and accuracy, and apply them to understand experimental data and physical mechanisms of propagation. OBJECTIVES(A) Treat propagation from narrowband and broadband sources over elastic and poro-elastic sediments, and incorporate realistic bathymetric, topographic, and geoacoustic variations.(B) Quantify acoustic interactions with physical features in the ocean volume and with geoacoustic features of the ocean sediment, and analyze and interpret experimental data. APPROACH(A) Develop efficient and accurate parabolic equation (PE) techniques for propagation through heterogeneous sediments. Treat range dependence and sediment layering by single scattering and energy conservation methods. Benchmark results using data and special high-accuracy solutions.(B) Construct representations for ocean environmental and geoacoustic variability using data and parametric models. Determine acoustic fields with PE, normal mode, and approximation methods. Use experimental data and computational results to assess propagation mechanisms.