The effect of geoacoustic characteristics of the bottom on the long-range sound propagation in an inhomogeneous ocean

Abstract

The long-range sound propagation from a deep ocean to a receiving system located on the shelf is modeled. The waveguide model is constructed on the basis of the data of an acoustic-oceanographic experiment carried out in the northwestern Pacific. The sensitivity and the frequency dependence of the difference in the sound field levels at the crossing of the frontal zone on the geoacoustic characteristics of the bottom of the shelf and the continental slope are investigated. It is shown that the level difference decreases by 8.2 dB as the velocity of longitudinal waves increases by 100 m/s in the range within 1490–1820 m/s.