Rapid geoacoustic inversion with a curved horizontal array

Abstract

Real-time geoacoustic inversions with a towed array are of interest for rapidly characterizing the sediment properties over changing regions, and require an efficient and accurate forward propagation model. A wavenumber integration solution using the computationally efficient method of undetermined coefficients and the Fast-Field Program is implemented with a simulated annealing optimization method and a coordinate rotation technique. The source function of interest may be broadband ship self-noise or a controlled source. The parameters sought in the inversion include, but are not limited to, geoacoustic sediment properties and receiver array geometry; the water column is assumed known. The forward propagation method is efficient and accurate for very short ranges. Results are presented of simulations with a controlled source, as well as preliminary MAPEX2000 ship self-noise. [Work supported by ONR.]