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Sound propagation in a continuously stratified laboratory ocean model
Likun Zhang1, Harry L Swinney2
1National Center for Physical Acoustics and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi, 145 Hill Drive, University, Mississippi 38677, USA.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|June 11, 2017
Summary
This study models underwater sound propagation in stratified fluids using salty water. Researchers measured sound speed and ray refraction, providing a basis for ocean acoustics research.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics
- Fluid Dynamics
- Oceanography
Background:
- Sound propagation in the ocean is complex due to density stratification.
- Understanding sound behavior in stratified fluids is crucial for underwater acoustics.
- Laboratory experiments can simulate oceanic conditions for acoustic studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sound propagation in a density-stratified fluid.
- To model sound ray refraction based on measured sound speed profiles.
- To provide a foundation for laboratory modeling of underwater sound in stratified oceans.
Main Methods:
- Created a density-stratified fluid by layering salty water.
- Measured fluid density to determine salinity and sound speed profiles with height.
- Conducted three-dimensional sound propagation measurements and compared them with ray analysis.
Main Results:
- Successfully created a continuously density-stratified fluid.
- Calculated height-dependent sound speed and fluid salinity.
- Demonstrated that ray analysis accurately predicts sound propagation in the stratified fluid.
Conclusions:
- Laboratory experiments with stratified fluids can effectively model underwater sound propagation.
- The study validates the use of ray theory for predicting sound behavior in stratified environments.
- Provides a valuable experimental framework for ocean acoustics research.
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