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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
04:54
A Stable Phantom Material for Optical and Acoustic Imaging
Published on: June 16, 2023
Air-borne sound generated by sea waves.
1The Marcus Wallenberg Laboratory/Linné Flow Centre, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 8, S-10044 Stockholm, Sweden. kbolin@kth.se
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|December 2, 2010
Summary
Researchers developed a model to understand sound from breaking waves. Higher waves generate louder sounds, with the sound spectrum depending on surf type, matching model predictions.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics
- Oceanography
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Breaking sea waves generate significant acoustic energy.
- Understanding this sound is crucial for marine environmental monitoring and research.
- Previous models lacked comprehensive validation with field data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a semi-empiric model for airborne sound generated by breaking waves.
- To investigate the relationship between wave characteristics and sound pressure levels.
- To analyze the spectral content of wave-generated sound in relation to surf type.
Main Methods:
- Field measurements of airborne sound were conducted at the Baltic Sea.
- Investigated shores with varying slopes and sediment compositions.
- Developed a semi-empiric model incorporating dissipated wave power and surf similarity parameter.
Main Results:
- Sound pressure levels increased from 60 dB (0.4 m wave height) to 78 dB (2.0 m wave height).
- The 1/3 octave sound spectrum varied significantly with different surf types.
- The proposed scaling model demonstrated satisfactory agreement with the collected measurements.
Conclusions:
- The semi-empiric model effectively predicts airborne sound levels from breaking waves.
- Wave height and surf type are key determinants of sound characteristics.
- This research provides a valuable tool for acoustic remote sensing in coastal environments.
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