A review of ocean current and vorticity measurements using long-range reciprocal acoustic transmissions

Author

Dushaw, Brian D. ; Chester, David B. ; Worcester, Peter F.

Author_Institution

Appl. Phys. Lab., Washington Univ., Seattle, WA, USA

fYear

1993

fDate

18-21 Oct 1993

Abstract

Reciprocal acoustic transmissions accurately measure the barotropic and, with suitable ray-path geometry, baroclinic components of ocean currents. Tomographically-derived tidal currents agree with both independent measurements and numerical models. Tomographically-derived currents are inherently range averages. Comparison with point measurements, such as from current meters, nonetheless show satisfactory agreement in all cases. Tomographically-derived, areal-averaged relative vorticity is unique and difficult to verify, but in both the Florida Straits and Gulf Stream regions tomographic vorticity estimates are consistent with current-meter-derived vorticity estimates

Keywords

acoustic variables measurement; oceanographic techniques; underwater sound; acoustic tomography; acoustic transmission method; areal-averaged relative vorticity; baroclinic component; barotropic; current; long-range reciprocal acoustic transmission; measurement technique; ocean sea dynamics; vorticity; Acoustic measurements; Acoustic pulses; Acoustic testing; Acoustic waves; Area measurement; Current measurement; Geometry; Oceans; Sea measurements; Tomography;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

OCEANS '93. Engineering in Harmony with Ocean. Proceedings

Conference_Location

Victoria, BC

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1385-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/OCEANS.1993.325995

Filename

325995