Mechanics Of Underwater Noise

Mechanics of Underwater Noise elucidates the basic mechanisms by which noise is generated, transmitted by structures and radiated into the sea. Organized into 10 chapters, this book begins with a description of noise, decibels and levels, significance of spectra, and passive sonar equation. Subsequent chapters discuss sound waves in liquids; acoustic radiation fundamentals; wind-generated ocean ambient noise; vibration isolation and structural damping; and radiation by plate flexural vibrations. Other chapters address cavitation, propeller cavitation noise, radiation by fluctuating-force (dipole) sources, and mechanical noise sources. This book will be helpful as a self-education text and as a reference for workers in the field.

The basic mechanisms by which acoustic noise is generated, transmitted by structures, and radiated into the underwater environment are explained. Dominant mechanisms which have practical application are emphasized. (Author).

Numerous incidents suggest that man-made sound injures and can kill marine mammals. This book offers an objective look at how ocean noise should be addressed given the lack of regulatory structure and the scientific uncertainty over the effects of noise on marine life. It is an essential text for policymakers, governments and NGOs, biologists, environmental activists, , oceanographers, and those in the shipping, engineering, and offshore oil and gas industries.

For the 119 species of marine mammals, as well as for some other aquatic animals, sound is the primary means of learning about the environment and of communicating, navigating, and foraging. The possibility that human-generated noise could harm marine mammals or significantly interfere with their normal activities is an issue of increasing concern. Noise and its potential impacts have been regulated since the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Public awareness of the issue escalated in 1990s when researchers began using high-intensity sound to measure ocean climate changes. More recently, the stranding of beaked whales in proximity to Navy sonar use has again put the issue in the spotlight. Ocean Noise and Marine Mammals reviews sources of noise in the ocean environment, what is known of the responses of marine mammals to acoustic disturbance, and what models exist for describing ocean noise and marine mammal responses. Recommendations are made for future data gathering efforts, studies of marine mammal behavior and physiology, and modeling efforts necessary to determine what the long- and short-term impacts of ocean noise on marine mammals.

To place this book in perspective it is useful for the reader to be aware of the recent history of the topic of underwater sound generation at the ocean surface by natural mechanisms. A meeting in Lerici, Italy in 1987 was convened within the NATO Advanced Research Workshop series, to bring together underwater acousticians and ocean hydrodynamicists to examine various mechanisms which generate sound naturally at the ocean surface. A record of that meeting was published in the NATO scientific publication series in 1988 under the title 'Sea Surface Sound'. That meeting was successful in inspiring and co ordinating both participants and non-attending colleagues to examine some key issues which were raised during the course of presentations and discussions. The understanding among those present was that another meeting should be convened 3 years hence to report and review progress in the subject. Accordingly the second conference was convened in Cambridge in 1990, whose proceedings are presented here. This volume represents a very gratifying increase in only a 3 year interval in our understanding of a number of physical processes which generate sound at the peripheries of oceans. In fact it represents both the acceleration of singular effort as well as the development of interdisciplinary sophistication and co-operation. The enthusiasm, goodwill, and intense scientific curiosity which characterized the Lerici meeting carried through to Cambridge. The collegial atmosphere established by the participants was perfectly timed to foster another major advance in studies of ocean surface sound.

This newest edition adds new material to all chapters, especially in mathematical propagation models and special applications and inverse techniques. It has updated environmental-acoustic data in companion tables and core summary tables with the latest underwater acoustic propagation, noise, reverberation, and sonar performance models. Additionally

Underwater Acoustic Modeling and Simulation, Fourth Edition continues to provide the most authoritative overview of currently available propagation, noise, reverberation, and sonar-performance models. This fourth edition of a bestseller discusses the fundamental processes involved in simulating the performance of underwater acoustic systems and emphasizes the importance of applying the proper modeling resources to simulate the behavior of sound in virtual ocean environments. New to the Fourth Edition Extensive new material that addresses recent advances in inverse techniques and marine-mammal protection Problem sets in each chapter Updated and expanded inventories of available models Designed for readers with an understanding of underwater acoustics but who are unfamiliar with the various aspects of modeling, the book includes sufficient mathematical derivations to demonstrate model formulations and provides guidelines for selecting and using the models. Examples of each type of model illustrate model formulations, model assumptions, and algorithm efficiency. Simulation case studies are also included to demonstrate practical applications. Providing a thorough source of information on modeling resources, this book examines the translation of our physical understanding of sound in the sea into mathematical models that simulate acoustic propagation, noise, and reverberation in the ocean. The text shows how these models are used to predict and diagnose the performance of complex sonar systems operating in the undersea environment.

This book contains the papers that were accepted for presentation at the 1988 NATO Advanced Study Institute on Underwater Acoustic Data Processing, held at the Royal Military College of Canada from 18 to 29 July, 1988. Approximately 110 participants from various NATO countries were in attendance during this two week period. Their research interests range from underwater acoustics to signal processing and computer science; some are renowned scientists and some are recent Ph.D. graduates. The purpose of the ASI was to provide an authoritative summing up of the various research activities related to sonar technology. The exposition on each subject began with one or two tutorials prepared by invited lecturers, followed by research papers which provided indications of the state of development in that specific area. I have broadly classified the papers into three sections under the titles of I. Propagation and Noise, II. Signal Processing and III. Post Processing. The reader will find in Section I papers on low frequency acoustic sources and effects of the medium on underwater acoustic propagation. Problems such as coherence loss due to boundary interaction, wavefront distortion and multipath transmission were addressed. Besides the medium, corrupting noise sources also have a strong influence on the performance of a sonar system and several researchers described methods of modeling these sources.