Physical and Biological Descriptors for Ocean Bubbles and Acoustic Surface Backscatter
Abstract
Processes related to the supply, mixing, and removal of ocean bubbles and their impact on low frequency (0-1000 Hz) acoustic surface scattering strength (SSS) in the upper ocean have been investigated. A key finding is that gross site-to-site differences between Critical Sea Test and Chapman-Harris SSS observations are explained by the mean ocean temperature, biological productivity, and wave conditions at each site. Furthermore, wave energy dissipation rate, estimated from wave spectra using wave energy flux considerations, was found to be a better descriptor for ocean whitecaps, related to upper ocean bubble supply, than wind speed. These results demonstrate that a model could be developed for estimating SSS statistics in coastal areas using readily available (by satellite and operational models) environmental inputs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA332748
Entities
People
- Jeffrey L. Hanson
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University