Abstract
Bubbles of radius 40–400 μm are formed by breaking wind waves and are known to influence significantly air‐sea gas exchange. Do they also modify wind generated ambient noise? For frequencies greater than 500 Hz, wind‐generated noise typically has a constant spectral slope, but a layer of bubbles will scatter and absorb the sound, changing its spectral and directional properties at high wind speed. Observations in Queen Charlotte Sound, B. C., in bands centered at 4.3, 8.0, 14.5, and 25.0 kHz illustrate these effects; at sufficiently high wind speeds noise at 14.5 and 25.0 kHz actually decreases with increasing speed. The changes in spectral slope as a function of wind speed and frequency allow bubble populations and size distributions to be inferred. These were found consistent with previous photographic and bubble trap measurements, but the range of wind speeds encountered permits determination of a more complete relationship. Scattering and absorption by the bubble layer has implications for the use of ambient noise in passive remote sensing of wind speed and precipitation.
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