Accession Number:

ADA516912

Title:

Acoustic Propagation in Turbulent Layers

Descriptive Note:

Conference paper

Corporate Author:

NAVAL RESEARCH LAB STENNIS SPACE CENTER MS

Personal Author(s):

• Field, R. L.
• Jarosz, E.
• Moum, J. N.

Report Date:

2007-09-01

Pagination or Media Count:

8.0

Abstract:

The objective of this work was to determine the extent to which acoustic propagation varies in the vicinity of topographic features where the flow oscillates between laminar and turbulent states. Since these topographic features are ubiquitous in coastal areas, the results will impact ACOMMS performance in these areas. In a recent experiment by Moum and Nash, oceanographic measurements were made around a small bank off the western continental shelf. Temperature, salinity, and turbulent dissipation rate measurements were obtained from this experiment and broadband 9-11kHz acoustic simulations done to determine the impact of the turbulent sound speed field on acoustic propagation. Acoustic simulations show an overall increase in transmission loss of about 10-15dB within the 10-11KHz band. This corresponds to the times where intense turbulence occurs. The transmission loss correlates well with the turbulent dissipation rate.

Descriptors:

• *SOUND TRANSMISSION
• *OCEAN ENVIRONMENTS
• *TURBULENT BOUNDARY LAYER
• ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATIONS
• ACOUSTIC SIGNALS
• TRANSMISSION LOSS
• OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA
• TURBULENCE
• SYMPOSIA
• CONTINENTAL SHELVES

Subject Categories:

• Acoustics
• Non-Radio Communications

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE