A model for the horizontal directionality of breaking wave noise in the surf zone

A model is presented for the horizontal directionality of the noise generated by individual breaking waves in the surf zone. The model is based on the interaction between sound radiated by ringing bubbles created in a breaking wave crest and the population of acoustically quiescent bubbles left on the seaward side of the wave in the shallow water waveguide. The effect of the quiescent bubbles is to absorb sound from all but the very ends of the breaking crest, resulting in the formation of "acoustic hot-spots." The model calculations are in good agreement with observations of the horizontal directionality of noise from individual breaking waves in the surf zone.