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Author Spotlight: A Stable Phantom Material for Optical and Acoustic Imaging
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Mid-frequency acoustic localization of breaking waves
Ryan Saenger1, Luc Lenain1, William S Hodgkiss1
1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|October 24, 2023
Summary
Researchers linked underwater sound patterns to visible breaking waves using a hydrophone array and aerial imaging. This study enhances understanding of ocean acoustics and wave dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Ocean acoustics
- Wave dynamics
- Marine hydrodynamics
Background:
- Underwater ambient noise is influenced by surface wave activity.
- Previous studies have not directly correlated acoustic data with visual observations of breaking waves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between underwater acoustic signals and surface breaking wave events.
- To determine if acoustic projections can identify locations of breaking waves.
Main Methods:
- Deployment of a mid-frequency vertical planar hydrophone array in deep water.
- Simultaneous aerial imaging of the sea surface using a high-resolution video camera.
- Synchronization of acoustic data (5–6 kHz) with visual data to map acoustic intensity to wave events.
Main Results:
- Concentrated areas of high acoustic intensity were observed in the projected sound beams.
- These acoustic hotspots spatially and temporally correlated with visible breaking wave events captured in aerial images.
- Despite limitations in array resolution, the study successfully linked acoustic signatures to physical wave phenomena.
Conclusions:
- Underwater ambient noise patterns can be indicative of surface breaking wave activity.
- Acoustic monitoring, combined with imaging, offers a method for detecting and localizing breaking waves.
- This research contributes to understanding the acoustic impact of ocean surface processes.
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