Current development in the numerical treatment of ocean acoustic propagation

Abstract

Many methods exist for determining the solution of linear ocean acoustic wave propagation problems. A number of solutions have been found by conventional analytic methods. These methods have been refined in recent years and their computation enhanced by advances in numerical analysis and the availability of supercomputers. However, no single method exists that is adequate for all applications mainly due to our inability to handle sophisticated variable ocean environments and the present limitation on computer speed and accuracy. Still a number of important contributions for determining solutions have recently been developed. These contributions plus effective numerical procedures permit environmental conditions to be handled, in part, realistically in a systematic manner. This survey begins with a brief review of existing problems and the progress toward their solutions. Among the most important contributions made in recent years are: “the improved parabolic equation,” “the numerical treatment of ocean interface conditions,” “the wide angle wave equation,” and “the numerical solution of three-dimensional ocean acoustic problems”; we choose to highlight the “wide angle wave equation.” A discussion on a range of unsolved problems is given which is used to emphasize the need for further reasearch.