Abstract
Scientific literature states that anthropogenic sound, such as mid-frequency sonar, may cause a behavioral response in marine mammals. The degree of response is highly variable and dependent upon many factors, including how sound transmission is influenced by environmental features. The physical parameters of the ocean medium, such as sound speed profile and bathymetry, are important controls of underwater acoustic propagation. Determining the acoustic propagation loss of the ocean environment is an application used to identify and correlate influential environmental factors. This study investigates the sensitivity of acoustic propagation loss based on specific physical characteristics found in five different sites representing beaked whale environments. These sites were chosen with regards to existing data on beaked whale distribution, historical mass stranding records, and presence of mid-frequency sonar activity. A range-independent, ray-tracing acoustic propagation model was used to generate a two-dimensional sound field over a range of 30 km. From the results of this experiment, the acoustic importance of bathymetry and sound speed profile of the five beaked whale environments were identified. Preliminary results from the experimental study will be presented.
Published Version
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