Measured vertical noise directionality at five sites in the Western North Atlantic

Solutions were computed for the vertical ambient sea noise field directionality at five sites in the Western North Atlantic Ocean using data from a 26-hydrophone element array with a 358.4-foot aperture at a center depth of 1,000 feet. Results show that the low-frequency noise below 100 Hz is concentrated near the horizontal (50 to 93 percent of the noise power between /spl plusmn/15/spl deg/ of horizontal) and is apparently dependent on bottom loss and shipping density. The results in the band 200 to 380 Hz are a combination of sea state and shipping noise dependent. A noise field solution technique was developed involving noise cross spectral matrix inversions. This technique overcomes some of the drawbacks of previous techniques such as least mean square estimation and successive approximations.     

南海某海域海洋环境噪声谱级风关特性分析

为探索南海某区域海洋环境噪声谱级与风场的相关特性,结合潜标海洋环境噪声数据及对应海域的海面风场再分析数据,计算各频段噪声级与风速相关系数及线性拟合函数。分析结果表明:400～1 000 Hz频段,海洋环境噪声谱级与海面风速的相关系数在0.5～0.8之间,达到中等相关。1 000～5 000 Hz频段,两者互相关系数大于0.8,达到高度相关。对海洋环境噪声谱级与对数风速的回归分析结果显示,1000～5 000 Hz频段,两者的线性函数关系显著;并且在1 000 Hz附近的拟合斜率最大,海洋环境噪声谱级对海面风速变化的灵敏度最高。     

起伏海面的雷电电磁场传播特征及其对闪电定位精度的影响

为了研究起伏海面对雷电电磁传播的影响,本文利用Barrick表面阻抗理论和Wait近似算法,采用改进二维分形海面模型模拟起伏海面,利用数值模式,分析起伏海面的雷电电磁传播特征,并进一步讨论了起伏海面对时差法闪电定位系统定位精度的影响。结果表明:起伏海面对垂直电场和磁场的峰值的影响不显著,但会引起波形的上升期时间的延长,浪高越大,影响越明显;随着观测距离的增加,雷电垂直电场波形的上升时间逐渐变长;风速的变化与雷电垂直电场波形的上升时间成正比;由于海面起伏引起雷电电磁场波形在传播中的变化会影响基于时差法闪电定位系统的定位精度,定位误差可达几至十几公里。     

Seasonal variations of wind and waves over Taiwan waters

We here investigate the frequency and intensity of oscillations in oceanographic data within intraseasonal time scales using spectral analysis of surface wind and wave time-series data collected at off-island weather stations or moored buoys around Taiwan. Data from marine weather stations were used to trace atmospheric conditions, while we used buoy data to examine sea states. The spectra and wavelet scalogram of the wind fields revealed oscillations with a period of around 20–33 days, and the energy density of the wind field at the off-island stations was stronger than that at the data buoy stations. However, the wavelet scalogram of the wave height measured at the buoy stations was stronger than its associated wind field. This long-period oscillation is consistent with the wavelet scalogram of the wind field calculated from the off-island weather stations. About 20–33 day oscillations exist within intraseasonal variations, which are closely linked to the atmospheric environment and to wind and ocean wave fields. Oscillations with a period of 5–10 days are a pronounced feature over northeastern Taiwan waters during the winter season and can be interpreted as the wave pattern following synoptic weather systems.     

用气-水-土3层模型分析海水中水平电偶极子源的电磁场分布

由空气－海水－海底3层模型求得了海水中水平电偶极子源的电磁场分布。与以往不考虑空气层的两层模型的电磁场分布相比,它更接近于实际分布情况。文章还对不同海底电导率时水平电偶极子源的电场水平分量进行了数值计算和分析。     

SPECIAL FEATURE OF UNDERWATER AMBIENT NOISE IN NORTHERN HUANGHAI SEA AND ITS DEPENDENCE ON WIND SPEED

The local special feature of underwater ambient noise in the northern Huanghai sea has been investigated. The results obtained from the analysis of data measured for six days and nights have shown that the time-varying characterization of ambient noise spectrum level is remarkable and its fluctuation at every analyzed frequency band presents an equiform periodicity varying with time synchronously. The dependence of average ambient sea noise spectrum level on logarithmic wind speed within the middle range (16-30 knot) appears in "V" form.The current Crouch's conclusion (1972) has been developed by us to be a mathematical model based on the segment correlation regression. Using this model to describe and expain the characterization of local ambient sea noise is available.     

Anomalous Decimeter Radio Noise from the Region of the Atmospheric Front: I. Characteristics of the Detected Radio Noise and Meteorological Parameters of the Frontal Cloudiness

An extraordinary experimental fact is presented and analyzed, namely, a rather intense broadband radio noise detected during the passage of an atmospheric front through the field of view of UHF antennas. Local atmospheric properties and possible sources of the extraordinary noise, including the thermal noise from cloudiness and extra-atmospheric sources, are considered. A conclusion is made about the presence of an additional nonthermal source of radio noise in the frontal cloudiness. According to the proposed hypothesis, these are multiple electric microdicharges on hydrometeors in the convective cloud.     

Decreasing the radiated acoustic and vibration noise of a mid-size AUV

An Odyssey IIb autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) made by Bluefin Robotics, Inc., was acquired by the Marine Physical Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, to conduct research in underwater acoustics as well as provide a platform for other scientific studies. The original Odyssey IIb tail cone was replaced with a ducted fan, vectored thrust system installed on vehicles currently sold by Bluefin. In initial sea tests with the new thrust system, the acoustic self noise levels of the vehicle while underway were 20 to 50 dB higher than typical ocean background noise levels, preventing the vehicle's use as a receiver of low level sounds. Controlled tests were performed to characterize the radiated and vibration noise of the AUV propulsion and actuators. Once this baseline was established, changes were made, mostly to the tail cone propulsion, to decrease the vehicle's self noise. The resulting self noise levels of the AUV from 10 Hz up to 10 kHz measured while underway by a hydrophone mounted on the AUV's inner shroud now are at or below typical shallow water background noise levels except in three bands; below 250 Hz, around 500 Hz, and from 0.9 to 2.0 kHz. The goal of this paper is to describe these changes and their effects in lowering vehicle noise levels.     

Sonar array characterization, experimental results

Measurements in the Levantine Sea with a seismic-type array [i.e., the high-frequency array (27 wavelengths at 348 Hz), the mid-frequency array (27 wavelengths at 175 Hz), and the low-frequency array (21 wavelengths at 58 Hz)] were found to have on average results within 1 dB of the theoretical signal gain. Observed signal gain degradations for peak-tracked and short integration times (1 min) had standard deviations from 2 to 3 dB and were caused by the combination of coherent multipaths, array shape, and array motion. The relative motion of source and receiver (5-8 kn) was an important cause of the average degradation at longer integration times (5 min). Equivalent plane wave beam noise levels were measured as a function of frequency, time, bearing, and aperture length. The beam noise level results show contributions from distant surface-ship-generated noise and natural environmental background noise. These results showed resolved distant shipping with median beam noise levels consistent with array noise gain 1-2 dB greater than the theoretical value for incoherent isotropic noise. The beam noise cumulative probability distribution function versus equivalent plane wave levels differed significantly from log-normality. Beam noise surfaces (beam noise levels versus time and bearing) show a higher density of ships for the high-frequency array when compared to the low-frequency array. Beam-to-beam cross correlations were found be sharply peaked and beam autocorrelation functions versus time showed zero crossing times on the order of 9-10 min. Significant space-time noise fade durations were observed at lower frequencies     

Underwater sounds near a fuel receiving facility in western Hong Kong: relevance to dolphins

Western Hong Kong is home to two species of marine mammals: Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides). Both are threatened in many parts of their range in southeast Asia [for example, International Biological Research Institute Reports 9 (1997), 41; Asian Marine Biology 14 (1997) 111]. In 1998, when the new Hong Kong International Airport opened in western Hong Kong, small tankers (about 100 m long, cargo capacity about 6300 metric tons) began delivering fuel to the Aviation Fuel Receiving Facility (AFRF) just off Sha Chau Island, north of the airport. Calibrated sound recordings were taken over a 4-day period from a quiet, anchored boat at distances 80-2000 m from aviation fuel delivery activities at the AFRF. From the recordings, 143 sections were selected for analysis. Narrowband spectral densities on the sound pressures were computed, and one-third octave band levels were derived for center frequencies from 10 to 16,000 Hz. Broadband levels, viz. 10-20,000 Hz. were also computed. The results showed that the Sha Chau area is normally noisy underwater, with the lowest broadband levels measured corresponding to those expected during a storm at sea (sea state 6). This background noise is believed to come largely from heavy vessel traffic in the Urmston Road to the north and east of Sha Chau and from vessels in the Pearl River Estuary to the West. The sound levels from the AFRF tankers are comparable to the levels measured from similar- and smaller-sized supply vessels supporting offshore oil exploration. The strongest sounds recorded were from a tanker leaving the AFRF at distance 100 m from the hydrophone, for which the one-third octave band level at 100 Hz was 141 dB re 1 microPa (spectrum level 127 dB re 1 microPa2/Hz) and the 10-20,000 Hz broadband level was 146 dB. At distances of 100 m or more and frequencies above 300 Hz, the one-third octave band levels were less than 130 dB (spectrum level 111 dB re 1 microPa2/Hz) and decreased with increasing frequency and distance. At distances greater than about 500 m, AFRF-associated sounds were negligible, masked by the generally high noise level of the area and attenuated by poor transmission in the very shallow water (<10 m). Because it is believed that humpbacked dolphins and finless porpoises are not very sensitive to sounds below 300 Hz, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) stipulated that dedicated terminal vessels not radiate underwater sounds at spectrum levels greater than 110 dB re 1 microPa2/Hz at frequencies above 300 Hz and distances greater than 300 m. The spectrum levels at 300 Hz and higher frequencies of sounds from the tankers arriving, departing, or off-loading at AFRF were less than 110 dB re 1 microPa2/Hz even at distances of 200 m or less. The AA stipulation was met. However, it is presently unknown whether the generally strong noise levels of western Hong Kong inhibit acoustically based feeding and communication, or result in increased stress or permanent shifts in hearing thresholds.     

On the joint estimation of model and satellite sea surface height anomaly errors

We describe a technique to estimate the error field in the sea surface height (SSH) anomaly field of an ocean model through the joint use of SSH anomaly fields measured from two satellites, Topex/Poseidon (T/P) and ERS-2. The joint error maps for the model, T/P and ERS-2 show distributions distinctly different from one another and globally inhomogeneous. Both sampling errors and instrument errors are represented in the mapped fields. Additionally, we compare the joint error estimation method to a technique using the model and only one satellite, and show the importance of the cross covariance between the measured SSH and the true SSH field in the estimation of the error field. Finally, we look at the distribution of the error versus the variance of the SSH at a location. This logged distribution suggests that the model errors are generally proportional to the model's variance (regression coefficient of 0.99, globally) while the satellites' errors do not exhibit this linear relationship (regression coefficients on the average of 0.60). The comparison of the two satellite distributions implies that ERS-2 has a lower sampling error than the T/P instrument except in the tropical region.     

台风期间南海北部岛礁及下坡海底对水下噪声的影响研究

The correlation of ambient noise with wind speed, and the depth dependence of ambient noise are both investigated, where the ocean noise data were recorded by a vertical line array in the northern South China Sea. It is shown that the correlation coefficients increase with increasing hydrophone depth during typhoon periods when the frequency ≥ 250 Hz, which opposes the generally accepted knowledge that the correlation coefficients of noise level and wind speed decrease with increasing depth during non-typhoon periods. Particularly at frequencies of 250 Hz, 315 Hz and 400 Hz, the correlation coefficients increase by more than 0.05 at depths ranging from 155 m to 875 m. At the three frequencies, the average noise levels also increase with increasing depth during typhoon periods. It is suggested that these differences are attributed to the wind-generated noise in shallow waters and the effect of "downslope enhancement" to sound propagation. During typhoon periods, the surf breaking and surf beat upon the shores and reefs are strengthened, and the source levels are increased. The wind-generated noise in shallow waters interacts with the downslope sea floor, with the noise-depth distribution changed by a "downslope enhancement" effect promoting noise propagation.     

次重力波对宽刈幅高度计海表面高度观测的影响

次重力波(Infragravity Wave,IGW)是一种频率较低(0.05～0.005 Hz),波长较长(约10 km)的表面重力波。由IGW引起的海表面高度变化会被宽刈幅干涉高度计SWOT(Surface Water and Ocean Topography,SWOT)卫星观测到,因此在使用SWOT观测的海表面高度来反演中尺度、次中尺度大洋环流时,IGW是一种重要的误差来源。根据数值模型模拟的全球IGW时空分布特征,本文以IGW最为活跃的东北太平洋和欧洲西北陆架附近大西洋为研究海域,估算了上述海域由IGW所引起的海表面高度变化,并将计算结果与SWOT Simulator模拟的轨道噪声(±5 cm)比较,首次定量地估算了IGW在SWOT观测海表面高度时的干扰程度。研究表明,IGW所引起的厘米量级的海表面高度变化在SWOT卫星观测海表面流场时是一种重要的,不可忽略的误差来源。在大西洋欧洲西北陆架海域,冬季IGW对海表面高度的贡献可达到SWOT卫星噪声要求水平的25%;然而,对于大陆架狭窄的美国西岸太平洋而言,由岸线产生的IGW将迅速传入深海海域,在广阔的范围内产生显著的"噪声"影响,在SWOT反演海表面流场时由IGW引起的误差将达到SWOT卫星噪声要求水平的15%。     

Coupled process-based cyclone surge simulation for the Bay of Bengal

We have developed a wind-wave-surge coupled process-based numerical model for simulating storm surge, consisting of a meso-scale atmospheric model (MM5), a third-generation spectral wave model (WW3) and a coastal ocean model (POM). We introduced an additional sea surface shear stress by wave dissipation into the model to consider the process of energy transfer from winds to currents through whitecap breaking. We demonstrate the importance of this energy transfer path through a hindcast simulation of a cyclone surge in April, 1991 in the Bay of Bengal: it helps generate mean current and has wave effects on wind-induced current fields in extremely shallow water areas.     

Coupled process-based cyclone surge simulation for the Bay of Bengal

We have developed a wind-wave-surge coupled process-based numerical model for simulating storm surge, consisting of a meso-scale atmospheric model (MM5), a third-generation spectral wave model (WW3) and a coastal ocean model (POM). We introduced an additional sea surface shear stress by wave dissipation into the model to consider the process of energy transfer from winds to currents through whitecap breaking. We demonstrate the importance of this energy transfer path through a hindcast simulation of a cyclone surge in April, 1991 in the Bay of Bengal: it helps generate mean current and has wave effects on wind-induced current fields in extremely shallow water areas.     

Near-Real–Time GPS-Based Orbit Determination and Sea Surface Height Observations from the Jason-1 Mission Special Issue: Jason-1 Calibration/Validation

The Jason-1 Operational Sensor Data Record (OSDR) is intended as a wind and wave product that is aimed towards near-real–time (NRT) meteorological applications. However, the OSDR provides most of the information that is required to determine altimetric sea surface heights in NRT. The exceptions include a sufficiently accurate orbit altitude, and pressure fields to determine the dry troposphere path delay correction. An orbit altitude field is provided on the OSDR but has accuracies that range between 8–25 cm (RMS). However, tracking data from the on-board BlackJack GPS receiver are available with sufficiently short latency for use in the computation of NRT GPS-based orbit solutions. The orbit altitudes from these NRT orbit solutions have typical accuracies of < 3.0 cm (RMS) with a latency of 1–3 h, and < 2.5 cm (RMS) with a latency of 3–5 h. Meanwhile, forecast global pressure fields from the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) are available for the NRT computation of the dry troposphere correction. In combination, the Jason-1 OSDR, the NRT GPS-based orbit solutions, and the NCEP pressure fields can be used to compute sea surface height observations from the Jason-1 mission with typical latencies of 3–5 h, and have differences with those from the 2–3 day latency Interim Geophysical Data Records of < 5 cm (RMS). The NRT altimetric sea surface height observations are potentially of benefit to forecasting, tactical oceanography, and natural hazard monitoring.     

Noise source level density due to surf. II. Duck, NC

For pt.I see ibid., vol.22, no.3, p.425-33 (1997). Ambient noise measurements collected off the coast of Duck, NC, were used in conjunction with modeled transmission loss (TL) and estimated ambient noise due to wave-breaking to generate estimates of spectral source level densities (per meter of surf zone) of surf-generated ambient noise. Estimates of both continuous (local) and discrete (distant) components of noise intensity due to breaking waves were subtracted from the total measured noise field in order to determine the contribution of the noise from the surf zone. Data for two days, representing high sea-state conditions, are presented. Estimated noise source level densities for heavy surf at Duck, NC, varied from 120 to 125 dB re 1 μPa/Hz^1/2/m at 200 Hz to 90-100 dB re 1 μPa/Hz^1/2 /m at 900 Hz, with a slope of -5 dB per octave. Results compare well with previous surf noise studies conducted in Monterey Bay as reported in the companion paper by Wilson et al     

Statistics of underwater ambient noise at high sea states arisen from typhoon out zones in the Philippine Sea and South China Sea

Oceanic noise is the background interference in sonar performance prediction and evaluation at high sea states. Statistics of underwater ambient noise during Typhoons Soulik and Nida were analyzed on the basis of experimental measurements conducted in a deep area of the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. Generated linear regression, frequency correlation matrix (FCM), Burr distribution and Gumbel distribution were described for the analysis of correlation with environmental parameters including wind speed (WS), significant wave height (SWH), and the inter-frequency relationship and probability density function of noise levels (NLs). When the typhoons were quite close to the receivers, the increment of NLs exceeded 10 dB. Whilst ambient noise was completely dominated by wind agitation, NLs were proportional to the cubic and quintic functions of WS and SWH, respectively. The fitted results between NLs and oceanic parameters were different for “before typhoon” and “after typhoon”. The fitted slopes of linear regression showed a linear relationship with the logarithm of frequency. The average observed typhoon-generated NLs were 5 dB lower than the Wenz curve at the same wind force due to the insufficiently developed sea state or the delay between NLs and WS. The cross-correlation coefficient of FCM, which can be utilized in the identification of noise sources in different bands, exceeded 0.8 at frequencies higher than 250 Hz. Furthermore, standard deviation increased with frequency. The kurtosis was equal to 3 at >400 Hz approximately. The characteristics of NLs showed good agreement with the results of FCM.     

An ambient noise model for the northeast Pacific Ocean basin

An ambient noise model for the Northeast Pacific Ocean Basin is presented. This model possesses the capability of synthesizing the noise field, with resolution in the vertical and horizontal finer than 1/spl deg/. Simulation results utilizing the synthesized field are shown to be in excellent agreement with measured horizontal directionality, vertical directionality, and depth dependence data for frequencies from 12.5 to 250 Hz. An important difference between this model and other models is the consideration of the SOFAR channel component, which is the dominant noise at these low frequencies. It is shown that only when this component of the noise is included can the simulation results be expected to agree with measured data.     

Atmospheric frontal gravity waves observed in satellite SAR images of the Bohai Sea and Huanghai Sea

In the satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of the Bohai Sea and Huanghai Sea, the authors observe sea surface imprints of wave-like patterns with an average wavelength of 3.8 km. Comparing SAR observations with sea surface wind fields and surface weather maps, the authors find that the occurrence of the wave-like phenomena is associated with the passing of atmospheric front. The authors define the waves as atmospheric frontal gravity waves. The dynamical parameters of the wave packets are derived from statistics of 9 satellite SAR images obtained from 2002 to 2008. A two-dimensional linear physical wave model is used to analyze the generation mechanism of the waves. The atmospheric frontal wave induced wind variation across the frontal wave packet is compared with wind retrievals from the SAR images. The CMOD-5 (C-band scatterometer ocean geophysical model function) is used for SAR wind retrievals VV (transmitted vertical and received vertical) for ENVISAT and HH (transmitted horizontally and received horizontally) for RADARSAT-1. A reasonable agreement between the analytical solution and the SAR observation is reached. This new SAR frontal wave observation adds to the school of SAR observations of sea surface imprints of AGWs including island lee waves, coastal lee waves, and upstream Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGW).