Measuring excess attenuation in littoral environments: Evolution of a measurement system

Abstract

Atmospheric sound propagation measurements over long distances are generally lacking in the literature. This work presents the evolution of the system deployed to collect high spatial and temporal resolution synchronized acoustic and meteorological data. Specifically, the mature configuration includes: a long-range acoustic device capable of source levels up to 140 dB; up to four 7-channel acoustic arrays; two 7-m temperature profiling masts; and a scanning Doppler LIDAR system for volumetric wind profiling at ranges up to several kilometers. This work presents lessons learned over the various iterations of the system such as the design and evolution of the excitation signal used; physical configuration of the components of the system; logistics and planning concerns; post-processing challenges; and quality control considerations.