Broadband sound propagation in shallow water

Abstract

A review of ten years of research in shallow water acoustics at SACLANTCEN is presented. Both experimental and theoretical results are given, with general features of shallow water propagation being emphasized. The experimental basis for this study is an extensive set of shallow water propagation data collected in different coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern North Atlantic. These data, in turn, have been subjected to a comprehensive modeling effort using wave‐theory models (normal mode and parabolic equation) in order to identify the fundamental mechanisms governing sound propagation in shallow water. As a result of this model/data comparison we have obtained a better understanding of the complicated frequency‐dependent changes in propagation conditions with changing environment, i.e., sound‐speed profile, water depth, bottom type, etc. Propagation levels in shallow water are generally found to be highly dependent on bottom type. In particular the coupling of sound into shear waves in ...