Low-order acoustic mode arrivals in the Beaufort Duct

Abstract

Significant changes in the stratification of the Beaufort Sea over the last few decades have produced a subsurface duct located between 100- and 300-meters depth, known as the Beaufort Duct. This subsurface duct allows for long-range acoustic transmission with little to no interaction with the sea surface or seafloor. In August and September of 2017, acoustic transmissions from five active moored tomography sources were collected at ranges up to 530 km by two Seagliders along with in-situ environmental measurements. Sound-speed profiles from the Seaglider data were used as input for parabolic equation and normal mode predictions. Both the predictions and recorded acoustic data show a peak acoustic arrival prior to the final cutoff. We refer to this as a “foldover” feature in the acoustic timefront, and it can be connected back to the unique ducting features in the input sound speed profiles. The relationship between the extent of the foldover and the shape of the sound-speed profile in the duct is explored using normal modes. Modal group speed predictions for the low-order modes are used to understand which modes make up the foldover feature present in the acoustic timefront and to interpret the acoustic arrival patterns measured on the Seagliders.