A central problem in shallow water acoustics is how to deal with environmental uncertainties. Acoustic propagation and scattering in these
waters (20 m to 200 m) is governed by 4-D water-column variability, bottom characteristics, and the modal transformation of non-linear
internal waves. Our goals are to determine the dominant physical processes that affect the acoustic field and to develop decision-making
tools for use in shallow water environments. This includes knowing how to choose the relevant environmental parameters to measure,
how often to measure them, and how to best select acoustic applications frequencies.

The experiment will be conducted off the eastern seaboard of the United States. There are three major components of the field effort.

  1. LEAR Littoral Environmental Acoustics Research
    ONR sponsor:  Ellen Livingston, Code 321, Ocean Acoustics

    LEAR mid-frequency component. The goal is to measure all relevant environmental parameters
    along with direct-path acoustic forward- and backscatter. (D. Tang)

  2. NLIWI Non-Linear Internal Wave Initiative
    ONR sponsor:  Theresa Paluszkiewicz, Code 322, Physical Oceanography

    NLIWI goal is to understand generation and propagation of Non-Linear Internal Waves in
    shallow water. (J.Moum et al.)

  3. AWACS Autonomous Wide Aperture Cluster for Surveillance
    ONR sponsor:  Thomas Curtin, Code 32, Special Programs


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