Analysis of characteristics of sound propagation in Antarctic Ocean by parabolic equation method

Abstract

Recently, the climate research of Ocean using Autonomous Underwater Vogel (AUV) is being planned in the Antarctic Ocean. In order to understand the characteristics of sound propagation in the Antarctic Ocean for communicate to AUV, we were calculated propagation time of pulse used by ray theory. Sound velocity profile was calculated from Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-31) in 1991. It was assumed that the transmitter was placed at 100 m in depth and propagation range was 33 km in OW traverse line. We have investigated about the influence of bathymetry in Lutzow-Holm bay for sound propagation in the Antarctic Ocean model that covered ice layer on surface for 33 km in range. The sound propagation time in OW line changed as the increment of roughness of ice surface and bathymetry. In order to know the characteristics of sound propagation, we calculated pulse waveform using parabolic equation method.