Estimation of Water Column and Sediment Acoustic Properties Using a Distributed Network of Sonobuoys: A Simulation Study and Field Experiment Data Analysis

Abstract

The US Navy's Multi-Static Active Coherent (MAC) acoustic search system is an air-launched system that combines a coherent source sonobuoy with a field of receiver sonobuoys. The operational search data collected during MAC exercises are well suited for post-processing to infer water column and sediment acoustic properties. We present results of simulation studies done to determine feasibility of estimating complete set of acoustic properties of the water column and sediments over a wide area by using a distributed network of receiver sonobuoys coupled with a source sonobuoy that transmits a broadband signal. The inversions based on mode dispersion data estimated from the signals acquired by the receiver sonobuoys were carried out with data from a range of frequency bands. We show that the inversions can yield acceptable estimates of the water column and sediment properties. Analysis of data collected during a field experiment, which mimics the operational scenario of MAC, is also presented. Inversions carried out with this experimental data provide estimates of water column and sediment acoustic properties. Evaluation of the inversion results show that the estimated sediment parameters are consistent with bottom models obtained for this general experimental area by other investigators.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 2018
Accession Number
AD1063221

Entities

People

  • Subramaniam D. Rajan

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Properties
  • Acoustic Waves
  • Acoustics
  • Algorithms
  • Contracts
  • Data Analysis
  • Equations
  • Experimental Data
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Bands
  • Frequency Domain
  • Fungi
  • New Jersey
  • Seabed
  • Shallow Water
  • Three Dimensional
  • Travel Time

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Oceanography.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Bayesian Inference