Sound scattering in shallow water in presence of internal solitons

Abstract

Sound scattering by localized inhomogeneity (object) in a shallow-water waveguide is studied. Influence of internal solitons (IS) traveling in the sea, on the scattered field is considered. The problem is analyzed within the framework of theory of the sound scattering in the waveguide developed by the authors, where the scattering matrix is expressed through modal decomposition including the scattering amplitude of the object in free space. The peculiarity of the given work is the taking into account of additional modes conversion due to IS. The waveguide and IS are modeled on the basis of experimental data (sound-speed profile, bottom relief, IS parameters, etc.) collected in the Japan Sea. The inhomogeneity is selected in the form of soft spheroids with dimensions characteristic of gray whales (eschrichtius). Calculations of amplitude fluctuations of the low-frequency sound field at the receiving point are carried out for moving spheroid and different orientations of acoustic track with respect to direction of propagation of IS. It is shown that sound fluctuations have essentially different characteristics for longitudinal and transversal propagation of IS. [Work supported by RFBR, Grant No. 00-05-64752.]