Clay and Medwin: An intuitive approach to the math and physics

Abstract

It is interesting to look back to the first encounter with a field that one would eventually make a career. This is frequently a combination of a mentor and some initial learning in an academic environment. Clarence (“Clay”) Clay and Herman (“Hank”) Medwin provided such an experience for numerous researchers in the field of ocean acoustics. Being active researchers and mentors, they published a sequence of two books, both entitled Acoustical Oceanography (1977 and the revised version in 1998), to introduce the field to those interested in using sound to remotely sense the oceans’ interior and boundaries. In addition to acousticians, readership includes marine biologists, geologists, and physical oceanographers. Although each book may look relatively simple at first glance, they present an intuitive approach to complex ocean acoustic problems with the right balance between physics, math, and real-world applications. There are also many references to more in-depth treatments of the topics. Each book provides a range of diverse topics including principles of underwater sound, sonar systems, signal processing, nonlinear acoustics, scattering from objects and creatures in the sea, the seafloor, acoustic waveguides, and many other subjects.