A Radiative Transfer Model for Acoustic Propagation in Ocean Sediment Layers

The propagation of mid-frequency (1-10 kHz) acoustic waves in shallow water regions (depths of 100200 m) is strongly influenced by the characteristics of the ocean bottom. While there has been much progress in developing and validating bottom scattering models, much of the focus has been in the high frequency regime with comparatively less focus in the mid-frequency. This is an important topic, since in the mid-frequency regime the acoustic field can penetrate the rough interface into the sediment and undergo multiple scattering from sediment stratification and volume inhomogeneities. In this work, the long-term goal is to develop an understanding of the spatial and temporal characteristics of the acoustic field through a rigorous modeling and measurement effort. In addition, the feasibility of using tools such as chirp sonar for bottom characterization will be considered and assessed.