Probability of detection and false alarm for target signals measured with seafloor reverberation in a shallow water waveguide

Abstract

Probabilities of detection and false alarm are calculated as a function of the signal-to-diffuse-reverberation ratio for both deterministic and fluctuating targets in a variety of shallow water waveguides. The signal-to-diffuse-reverberation ratio is computed using the unified model [N. C. Makris and P. Ratilal, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 109, 909–941 (2001)] for reverberation and submerged object scattering in a stratified medium. The reverberant background is range and azimuth dependent, and varies with the resolution footprint of the sonar system. Scenarios involving an active source and a horizontal receiving array are investigated. Predictions using this method are compared with data from the Geoclutter 2001 experiment. Detection and false alarm probabilities are calculated for submerged targets as well as geoclutter features in the shallow waters of the Stratafrom site off the coast of New Jersey. The results are consistent with our experimental findings that detection probabilities decrease with increasing range.