Modeling Underwater Communication Links

Design and operation of underwater acoustic communications systems require a capacity to model the acoustic preparation conditions under various environmental conditions. For the frequencies of interest to most applications in connection to ocean sensor networks ray tracing technique is normally the preferred method. In this study we use a newly developed acoustic propagation model, called PlaneRay. The model is based on classical ray theory but with a novel routine for the determination of all eigenrays connecting a source with receivers. For each eigenray the model calculates the trajectories, travel times and amplitudes and constructs the complete frequency response by coherent addition of all the multiple arrivals. The paper describes the model and its capabilities are illustrated with examples for bottom-to-surface and bottom-to-bottom communication links in Barents and Norwegian Sea at different seasons.