Analytic mean and variance of forward propagated field through random internal waves and subbottom anomalies with Rayleigh–Born scattering

Abstract

The mean and variance of the field propagated through a waveguide containing random internal waves or subbottom anomalies is modeled using a modal solution [Ratilal and Makris, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 114, 2428 (2003)] that analytically expresses the effects of dispersion, attenuation, and redistribution of modal energy due to multiple scattering in the forward direction. The scatter function of an elemental volume of inhomogeneity in density and compressibility is modeled using the Rayleigh–Born approximation. Simulations in both continental shelf and deep water waveguides quantitatively show how the relative magnitude of coherent versus incoherent intensity varies with range in typical internal wave fields and subbottom environments.