Selected examples of Scholte wave propagation in deep and shallow water

Abstract

The Naval Ocean Research and Development Activity recently completed a series of three experiments to measure very low‐frequency (VLF) seismo‐acoustic propagation in both shallow and deep water marine environments. A vertical hydrophone array and ocean bottom instruments were deployed in all three experiments. The ocean bottom instruments contained both hydrophone and three‐component geophone sensors. In the single shallow water experiment, measurements were also made with buried three‐component geophones. We compare the VLF propagation characteristics in deep and shallow water seen with ocean bottom and water column sensors. The importance of Scholte wave propagation in accounting for both signal and ambient noise energy at near bottom receivers is shown for selected frequencies using both measured and modeled results. Necessary environmental conditions for Scholte wave excitation are also examined.