Ray Stability for Background Sound Speed Profiles with Transition

In this paper deep ocean sound propagation through random media is considered. The study is conducted within a ray theory framework, which facilitates the assessment of ray stability. Model ocean environments where there is a gradual transition between two ambient sound speed profiles, a single duct Munk profile and a double duct profile taken in the Eastern North Atlantic are examined. We build on the finding that the ambient sound speed structure controls ray stability [Beron-Vera & Brown, 2003], and extend this statement for sound speed profiles with transition. It is shown that launching basins, plots constructed by the Maximal Lyapunov Exponent and indicating desirable ray launching parameters, can be predicted by the unperturbed ray system using the nonlinearity parameter.