Remote acoustic sensing of oceanic fluid and biological processes

Abstract

High frequency acoustic backscattering systems are being used in monostatic modes to evaluate the use of acoustic techniques to detect and study a variety of fluid processes in the oceanic environment. A short outline of those research programs actively evaluating and using acoustic techniques is presented, followed by a detailed review of this investigator's program. This program uses a multifrequency high frequency acoustic system to study a variety of processes including turbulent mixing, air-sea interactions, internal waves, interleaving water masses, natural particulate dispersion and distribution, the dispersion of particulates associated with deep ocean disposal of industrial chemical waste, and biological response to a variety of stimulae including fluid motion, predators, and oceanographic instrumentation. Graphic acoustic data records of several of the above phenomena are described.