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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Reefshape: A System for the Efficient Collection and Automated Processing of Time-Series Underwater Photogrammetry Data for Benthic Habitat Monitoring

Reefshape: A System for the Efficient Collection and Automated Processing of Time-Series Underwater Photogrammetry Data for Benthic Habitat Monitoring

Published on: June 13, 2025

Modeling three-dimensional propagation in a continental shelf environment.

Megan S Ballard¹

¹Applied Research Laboratories, University of Texas at Austin, 10000 Burnet Road, Austin, Texas 78758, USA. meganb@arlut.utexas.edu

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

|March 20, 2012

Summary

This study reveals how seafloor topography and sediment properties significantly impact underwater sound refraction and intensity. Acoustic modeling explains enhanced signal levels from refracted paths, crucial for understanding ocean acoustics.

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Evolution of Staircase Structures in Diffusive Convection

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Published on: September 5, 2018

Area of Science:

Oceanography
Acoustics
Geophysics

Background:

Underwater acoustic propagation is complex, influenced by environmental factors.
Three-dimensional (3-D) effects in acoustic signals are not fully understood.
Low-frequency sound measurements reveal significant signal variations.

Purpose of the Study:

To model and explain observed 3-D acoustic propagation effects.
To investigate the influence of geoacoustic properties on sound refraction.
To understand the factors controlling received signal levels and arrival angles.

Main Methods:

Application of a 3-D adiabatic mode acoustic propagation model.
Solving the horizontal refraction equation using a parabolic equation in Cartesian coordinates.
Geoacoustic environmental modeling based on seafloor topography and sediment properties.

Main Results:

Acoustic data showed direct and refracted arrivals, with the refracted path being significantly stronger (>25 dB).
Seafloor topography was identified as the primary driver of horizontal refraction.
Range-dependent sediment properties most influenced the received signal level.

Conclusions:

The 3-D adiabatic mode model successfully predicts observed acoustic phenomena.
Seafloor features and sediment characteristics are critical for accurate underwater acoustic predictions.
Modal decomposition offers insights into signal variability in complex environments.