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Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Author Spotlight: A Stable Phantom Material for Optical and Acoustic Imaging
Published on: June 16, 2023
Sources of Underwater Sound and Their Characterization
Michael A Ainslie1, Christ A F de Jong2
1Acoustics and Sonar Group, Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), 96864, 2509 JG, The Hague, The Netherlands. michael.ainslie@tno.nl.
Abstract:
Because of the history of sonar and sonar engineering, the concept of "source level" is widely used to characterize anthropogenic sound sources, but is it useful for sources other than sonar transmitters? The concept and applicability of source level are reviewed for sonar, air guns, explosions, ships, and pile drivers. International efforts toward the harmonization of the terminology for underwater sound and measurement procedures for underwater sound sources are summarized, with particular attention to the initiatives of the International Organization for Standardization.
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