Shallow water propagation under the Arctic ice canopy

Abstract

Propagation in a shallow water waveguide, covered by a layer of “ice,” is being studied in a 10‐m‐long laboratory waveguide that models both the scale and the physical properties of the Arctic. Both smooth ice and rough ice effects are investigated. Comparisons are made with predictions of the Naval Research Laboratory computer model, KRAKEN. Although the ice canopy thickness is only a small fraction of a wavelength, the sound field is distinguishable from the usual Pekeris waveguide behavior by evidence of the presence of solid‐borne modes in the ice. The observed effects are related to the stimulation of ice head waves, which has been reported previously for deep water regions [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 83, 1794 (1988) and J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Suppl. 1 82, S31 (1987)]. [Work supported by the office of Naval Research.]