Using a regional ocean model to understand the structure and variability of acoustic arrivals in Fram Strait
Abstract
A regional ocean model for Fram Strait provides a framework for interpretation of the variability and structure of acoustic tomography arrivals. The eddy-permitting model (52 vertical levels and 4.5 km horizontal resolution) was evaluated using long-term moored hydrography data and time series of depth-range averaged temperature obtained from the inversion of acoustic tomography measurements. Geometric ray modeling using the ocean model fields reproduces the measured arrival structure of the acoustic tomography experiment. The combination of ocean and acoustic models gives insights into acoustic propagation during winter and spring. Moreover, overlapping arrivals coming from different vertical angles can be resolved and explained. The overlapping arrival of purely refracted rays and surface-reflected/bottom-reflected (SRBR) rays has implications for the inversion of tomography data in Fram Strait. The increased knowledge about the ray-length variations of SRBR rays is valuable for choosing appropriate observation kernels for the data assimilation of acoustic tomography data in Fram Strait.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1121/10.0000513
Entities
People
- Bruce D. Cornuelle
- Florian Geyer
- Hanne Sagen
- Heriberto J. Vázquez
- Matthew R. Mazloff
Organizations
- Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Naval Research Global
- University of California, San Diego