Localization of the sources of short-duration signals in a coastal ocean environment

Abstract

A time-domain method to localize the sources of short-duration acoustic signals is presented. Pulse propagation in a coastal ocean environment has been successfully modeled on a workstation using a modified version of the finite element parabolic equation (FEPE) code developed by Collins and Westwood (1991). The agreement between the modeled results and experimental data prompted the consideration of the problem of localizing sources of short-duration acoustic signals using time-domain processing. A new algorithm called time domain localization (TALON) has been developed. TALON uses the modified FEPE along with a time domain correlation technique to determine the range, depth, and bearing of the source of the short-duration signal. TALON is currently configured to use a single sensor or beam but can be modified for a multisensor/multibeam application. TALON is in the class of algorithms that have been described as coherent matched-field processors. In this paper, the localization procedure and the results of two computer simulation experiments are presented. The computer experiments illustrate localization performance for Monterey Bay and Barents Sea scenarios. Algorithm sensitivity to signal and environment uncertainty is addressed. [Work supported by the Naval Postgraduate School.]