The propagation of an acoustic pulse in a near-ground atmospheric waveguide

A wave theory of propagation of an acoustic pulse in a moving stratified atmospheric layer above the ground with a finite impedance of an underlying ground surface is developed. The shapes of acoustic signals in a near-ground atmospheric waveguide, which are formed due to temperature inversion and a vertical shear of the wind velocity, are calculated based on this theory. These signals are compared with those measured during the experiments where vertical profiles of the wind velocity and temperature in an atmospheric boundary layer have been continuously controlled using a sodar, a temperature profile meter, and acoustic anemometers or thermometers mounted on a 56-meter-high mast. The joint action of a near-ground acoustic waveguide, the impedance of the underlying surface, and a vertical layered structure of the boundary atmospheric layer on a signal shape far from the acoustic source are studied.     

Nonreflected vertical propagation of acoustic waves in a strongly inhomogeneous atmosphere

Using the linear theory of waves in a compressible atmosphere located in a gravitational field, we found a family of sound speed profiles for which the wave field can be represented by a traveling wave with no reflection. The vertical flux of wave energy on these nonreflected profiles is retained, which proves that the energy transfer may occur over long distances.     

The influence of bubble clouds on acoustic propagation in the surfzone

High-frequency propagation close to an active surf line is explored with 12and 100-kHz propagation paths together with measurements of bubble clouds, bubble size distributions, and waves. Breaking waves inject massive bubble plumes that are mixed downwards from the roller region by intense turbulence. If these injections follow one another at intervals less than the time taken for the bubbles to rise to the surface, acoustic signals will be continuously blocked, forming an acoustical barrier that effectively inhibits any propagation. Occasionally, waves break seaward of this barrier. In this case, dense bubble clouds are mixed down beneath the air entrainment zone, but there is sufficient time for them to disappear before succeeding breakers, allowing intermittent high-frequency propagation recharge the bubble field. The duration and shape of signal dropouts are then determined by the selective removal of bubbles by buoyancy and dissolution. In addition to turbulence created by the air entrainment process, a lower level of continuous background turbulence may be generated by interaction of residual currents with the wave boundary layer. Our observations illustrate the variable character of acoustic blocking by bubble clouds and serve as a basis for quantitative analysis of these effects with a 2D propagation model coupled to 2D models of bubble cloud evolution and background turbulence     

声跃层结构变化对深海汇聚区声传播的影响

根据射线理论建立了线性声速结构条件下的声跃层强度与深海汇聚区关系模型,用最小位移角讨论了海洋环境变化（如声跃层强度变化、声跃层位置变化及季节性跃层生消等）与汇聚区距离和宽度变化的相关性.结果表明,声跃层的结构变化对汇聚区特征影响很大.声跃层强度增大使汇聚区向远离声源的方向变化,跃层强度每增加0.01 s-1对应的汇聚区位移增大约为3.5～5.0 km.声跃层位置变化对汇聚区的影响小于声跃层强度,与两层结构的声速剖面相比,上行结构使汇聚区向靠近声源的方向变化,声跃层上升200 m对应的汇聚区位移减小约为1.0～1.5 km,声跃层越浅,汇聚区距离越近;下行结构使汇聚区向远离声源的方向变化,混合层加深200 m对应的汇聚区位移增大约为1.0～1.5 km,混合层越深,汇聚区距离越远.季节性跃层的生消使近表层有负梯度、零梯度和正梯度的变化.负梯度结构的变化规律与两层结构条件下的声跃层强度变化类似,但对汇聚区的影响程度相对较小;正梯度结构使汇聚区在近表层出现表面声道,梯度值的增强将使汇聚区向靠近声源的方向变化.     

Generation of vertical fine structure in inhomogeneous flow by inertial-gravity internal waves

Corrections to the vertical distribution of mean density and current velocity non-oscillating on the wave's time scale have been derived in the approximation, quadratic by the wave's steepness. It has been shown that the horizontal volume transport of both the induced current and the Stokesian drift, integrated over depth, equates zero in the Boussinesq approximation.Translated by V. Puchkin.     

浅海沉积层声学特性对声传播损失的影响仿真研究

为厘清海底沉积层声学特性信息的水声环境保障需求,构建浅海两层海底环境参数模型,并参考Hamilton海底底质9种分类设置沉积层声速、密度、衰减系数及厚度的参考值及计算采样区间,利用Kraken简振波模型,采用控制变量的方法,研究了浅海沉积层声学特性参数对声传播损失的影响;开展了建模理论推导及数值技术分析,研究了海底沉积层声学特性参数在模型计算过程中调用过程,并从建模计算的角度对仿真计算的结果进行解释,对海底沉积层声学特性调查装备发展及调查重点参数具有一定的参考价值。     

Physical modeling of long-range infrasonic propagation in the atmosphere

The results of experiments on the physical modeling of long-range infrasonic propagation in the atmosphere are given. Such modeling is based on the possible coincidence between the forms of the vertical profiles of the effective sound speed stratification in the atmospheric boundary layer (between 0 and 600 m for the case under consideration) and in the atmosphere as a whole (from the land surface up to thermospheric heights (about 150 km)). The source of acoustic pulses was an oscillator of detonation type. Owing to the detonation of a gas mixture of air (or oxygen) and propane, this generator was capable of producing short, powerful (the maximum acoustic pressure was on the order of 30 to 60 Pa at a distance of 50 to 100 m from the oscillator), and sufficiently stable acoustic pulses with a spectral maximum at frequencies of 40 to 60 Hz and a pulsing period of 20 to 30 s. The sites of acoustic-signal recording were located at different distances (up to 6.5 km) from the source and in different azimuthal directions. The temperature and wind stratifications were monitored in real time during the experiments with an acoustic locator—a sodar—and a temperature profiler. The data on the physical modeling of long-range sound propagation in the atmosphere are analyzed to verify the physical and mathematical models of predicting acoustic fields in the inhomogeneous moving atmosphere on the basis of the parabolic equation and the method of normal waves. A satisfactory agreement between calculated and experimental data is obtained. One more task was to compare the theoretical relations between variations in the azimuths and angles of tilting of sound rays about the horizon and the parameters of anisotropic turbulence in the lower troposphere and stratosphere with the experimental data. A theoretical interpretation of the experimental results is proposed on the basis of the theory of anisotropic turbulence in the atmosphere. The theoretical and experimental results are compared, and a satisfactory agreement between these results is noted.     

海洋混合层结构对表面声道中声传播特性的影响分析

利用WOA05气候态数据集和北黄海调查数据,应用BELLHOP高斯束射线模型分析了我国近海及西太平洋典型海区的混合层结构对表面声道中声传播特性的影响,结果表明:我国近海的混合层结构有显著的区域性和季节性变化;深海中主要表现为混合层深度变化,这种变化直接影响表面声道的空间分布,声波在混合层中的表面声道中传播与在混合层外的影区中传播产生的能量场差异较大;浅海中混合层深度与声速梯度的空间变化都很明显,声速梯度的增大和混合层的加深都能使更多声线以反转的形式传播,使表面声道声场增强。两组海上实验数据表明,在真实海洋中混合层可在短时间内出现生消变化或在局部海域出现非均匀分布。在浅海温跃层环境下,海-气边界特定的物理过程能够使混合层发生间歇性的变化,当表面声道出现时近表层声场明显增强。     

Studying characteristics of a fine layered structure of the lower troposphere on the basis of acoustic pulse sounding

Results of acoustic sounding of the lower troposphere with the aid of detonation generators of acoustic pulses are given. This sounding method is based on a partial reflection of acoustic pulses with shock fronts from vertical wind-velocity and temperature gradients continuously varying with height in the troposphere and on the penetration of reflected signals into the region of acoustic shadow. Experiments on tropospheric sounding were carried out on the ground of the Barva Innovation Scientific and Technical Center (Talin, Armenia) in September 2015. In these experiments, an antihail acoustic system was first used as a generator of acoustic pulses. Experimental results have been compared with data obtained earlier in similar experiments carried out in the vicinity of Zvenigorod with the use of a special detonation generator of acoustic pulses. Due to the high resolution (in height) of the sounding method, which reaches 1 m in the stably stratified lower troposphere within a height range of 250–600 m, the vertical profiles of layered effective sound speed inhomogeneities with vertical scales from a few to a few tens of meters have been retrieved. The influence of these fluctuations on the form and amplitude of acoustic signals at a long distance from their pulsed source has been studied.     

Analysis of optimal conditions for recording signals when studying the atmospheric boundary layer with the acoustic method of partial reflection

Equations for the coefficient of partial reflection K from stratified inhomogeneities in the atmospheric boundary layer have been derived on the basis of the Epstein transition and symmetrical layer models as functions of three dimensionless parameters, i.e., the relative layer altitude, its relative thickness, and the relative variations in the effective sound speed in a layer. The equations have been obtained for the relative layer altitude at which the total internal reflection appears; the behavior of the function K is studied at close altitudes. Significant weakening of the dependence of coefficient K on the relative layer thickness in these conditions is shown, which makes it possible to record partially reflected signals in a wide range of wave-lengths or frequencies of the sounding signal. In other cases, the coefficient of partial reflection K strongly depends on the layer thickness. According to experimental data on variations in the amplitude of received acoustic signals with an increase in the source-detector distance, a technique for the parameterization of the additional impedance attenuation of sound that propagates over the earth’s surface has been developed, and these parameters have been experimentally estimated for different stratification conditions and sounding signal frequencies. Many records of background acoustic noises typical for one or another measurement sites have been distinguished and classified, a technique for estimating the minimum signal amplitude distinguishable against noises has been developed, and the corresponding estimates have been made. Based on these data and the specifications of three different industrial acoustic sources, the parameter limits provided by these sources have been estimated for the method of partial reflection.     

Effects of Korean littoral environment on acoustic propagation

Environmental acoustics experiments were recently conducted in shallow to intermediate water depths in the Sea of Japan, east of Korea, along the shelf and slope, covering frequencies from 25 to 800 Hz. These were operational experiments carried out in three different seasons. The primary objectives of the data reported here are: (1) to characterize the Korean coastal environment during May 1998, September 1998, and February 1999 and (2) to assess how complexities of the environment might impact acoustic propagation in May and February, as measured by its transmission loss. Propagation data were obtained from broadband explosive SUS sources and sonobuoy receivers. The tests were conducted over varying bottom depths and slopes, both approximately normal and parallel to the bathymetric contours. Two different source depths were included. Environmental and acoustic data are reviewed and discussed. While many aspects of the observed propagation remain ill understood, on the whole a consistent and useful picture has emerged of acoustic propagation in this region. Environmental impacts on propagation are associated mainly with bottom properties, somewhat less so with source depth in relationship to sound speed profiles, and almost not at all with range-dependent profiles of a water mass front     

Space and time variations in the fine structure of the upper atmosphere according to acoustic sounding data

The results of studying variations in the fine layered structure of the upper atmosphere (heights of 20–140 km) according to data obtained from acoustic sounding within the range of infrasonic waves are given. The sources of infrasounds were surface explosions equivalent to 10 kg to 70 t of TNT. These explosions were set off in different seasons in different regions of Russia. Experimental data obtained in 1981–2011 have been analyzed. It has been found that the fine structure in the form of vertically distributed layered formations occurs in the upper atmosphere in all seasons. Moreover, the vertical distribution of both air-temperature and wind-velocity inhomogeneities in the upper atmosphere may be invariable over a time interval of no less than several hours. It has also been found that, throughout the entire atmospheric thickness from the stratopause to the lower thermosphere heights (up to 140 km), the instantaneous height distribution of layered air-temperature and wind-velocity inhomogeneities may remain almost unchanged during a time interval of no less than 20 min.     

An acoustic positioning system using demodulated signals of an FM ultrasonic wave

An acoustic positioning system using a continuous frequency-modulated (FM) ultrasonic wave transmitted from a sound source source located on the sea bottom is described in this paper. This system consists of a direction detecting system and a distance-change detecting system. The accuracy of the direction detection of the tested system was2degand the accuracy of the distance-change detection was within 0.10 m for a displacement of 50 m. Combining these two systems, it is possible to detect the change of position of the vessel sensitively. Since information from the phases of demodulated signals of the received FM ultrasonic wave is used exclusively, this system is excellent in signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) in spite of the simplicity of the electronic circuit. It was confirmed in experiments in the sea that both the direction detecting system and the distance-change detecting system worked well simultaneously, and that the combined systems would be suitable as an acoustic positioning system.     

季节因素对大西洋声传播的影响分析

以分析季节对大西洋声传播的影响为研究目的,应用WOA13季节平均数据和Mackenzie声速经验公式,分析了大西洋声道轴和表层声速值的四季分布情况,再利用BELLHOP水声学数值模型,在设定的声源频率1 000 Hz和掠射角15°～-15°情况下,仿真计算选用位置点5 m深度声源的四季声传播情况,研究结果表明:按照实际的季节,大西洋会聚区波导的反转深度,冬季最小,春季增大,夏季最大,秋季再减小.在中低纬度的典型声速剖面下,夏季会聚区跨度最大,秋季和冬季递减,春季最小,第一会聚区的四季跨度差在1 km内.在高纬度的正梯度声速剖面下,夏季声传播距离最远,秋季减小,冬季最近,春季增大,且传播距离的差别较大.各变化规律均以四季循环更替的形式出现.     

Effects of East China Sea shallow-water environment on acoustic propagation

Operational environmental acoustics experiments were conducted over the frequency range of 25 to 800 Hz in September 1997 in the East China Sea, where the water depth was about 100 m. Objectives of the data analysis reported here are to characterize this environment and to assess its complexities as they may impact acoustic propagation as measured by its transmission loss (TL). Conductivity-temperature-depths and expendable bathy-thermographs sampled the ocean, such that its spatial and temporal variability could be approximately separated. The sound-speed profiles are downward refracting, involve two water masses associated with the Kuroshio Current and Taiwan Warm Current, and have thermocline variations caused by internal tides. The bottom geoacoustic characteristics, presumed to be approximately horizontally isotropic, were based on data atlases and were estimated from the measured TL, for some interpretations. The TL data were obtained in octave bands from explosive signal underwater sound sources and sonobuoy receivers, both deployed at a depth of about 18 m. Tests were conducted in directions approximately normal and parallel to the bathymetric contours and the measured TL was, to zero order, independent of the direction of propagation. To higher order, directional differences in the TL were observed and ascribed to anisotropies in bottom properties. A state-of-the-art TL model was adopted, based on environmental idealizations typical of operational forecasting and compared with the measured TL. The comparison yields a probability density function that quantifies the uncertainty of such a TL model, caused by the stochastic variability of the environment, typically unknown a priori. For the model used, the pdf has a standard deviation of about 2 dB from 50 to 800 Hz and larger below 50 Hz.     

A statistical study of acoustic signals backscattered from the seabottom

Backscattering measurements were performed in shallow water on sand, gravel, and clay bottoms. The equipment included a parametric array that emitted pulses of differential frequencies (8 to 40 kHz) with a 3° directivity. The ranges did not exceed 50 m. The grazing angles varied from 4° to 90°. The bottom backscattering strength does not depend on the emitted pulse type (frequency and length). If one fits a Lambert law to the variations of the backscattering strength versus the grazing angle, the value at the origin fluctuates between-15 and-22 dB without any clear effect from the different bottom types. Statistical tests show that under the experimental measurement conditions: (1) the alternative received signal does not generally follow a normal distribution; (2) among five classical distributions in sonar and radar that have been fitted to the detected-integrated signal (exponential, Weibull, chi-2, log-normal, Rice), the best-fitted law is the log-normal; (3) signals backscattered by separated areas of the same bottom can hardly be regarded as stationary and, even less, homogeneous; and (4) with an anisotropic bottom topography the statistical properties depend on the aspect under which this topography is seen     

北极冰下声传播特性实验研究

通过2017年8月6日在北极海域开展的一次声传播实验,开展了冰下声传播特性实验研究。结合Burke-Twersky （BT）散射模型与射线模型,分析了冰下声传播的多途到达结构,研究了接收声强变化规律,解释了接收声强在30 min内衰减20 dB的现象,分析了接收信号的时间相关性,探讨了接收信号相关性较低的原因。实验结果表明,表面接收信号主要由小角度多次反转反射声线、一次海底反射声线和二次海底反射声线依次构成,表面声道到达信号显著强于海底反射信号。试验冰站在试验期间的运动导致了声传播信号强度和相关性的迅速衰减,并通过仿真得到了验证。     

Estimating the parameters of pulsed sources from data on acoustic waves recorded in the atmosphere

The possibility of estimating the parameters of surface pulsed sources from data on acoustic waves recorded in the atmosphere is studied. Experimental values are given for peak pressure P ₊ of recorded acoustic signals, wave-profile area S ₊ in their positive phase, and length t ₊ of this phase, and the approximations of these parameters are obtained within wide ranges of source energy 10^–3 < E < 10¹⁰ kg TNT and scaled distances 1 < R/E ^1/3 < 4 × 10⁴ m/kg^1/3. Conventional methods of estimating the acoustic energy E according to data obtained from acoustic measurements in the atmosphere are analyzed, and ways to improve their accuracy are proposed. The influence of the type of explosions on the parameters P ₊, S ₊, and t ₊ of acoustic signals at long distances R/E ^1/3 > 500 m/kg^1/3 from explosions is shown.