PROTEE 93: description of the meso-scale features encountered in the Azores zone and evaluation of the impact of the variability on sound propagation

In October-November 1993 an intensive 10 day oceanographic cruise called PROTEE was carried out in the Azores zone (31°30´-36°00´ N 20°30´-26°00´ W). The data from more than 140 XBT revealed Meddies and fronts: the Mediterranean Waters are clearly identified due to temperature and celerity maximum. The first part of the paper gives an accurate description of the meso-scale features encountered in this zone. Propagation of the sound waves through these features is altered because of the disturbance in the celerity field. Using the celerity field derived from the measures, acoustic simulations were computed with several propagation models (ray theory, ...) of DCN Ingenierie SUD/LSM. The last part of the paper investigates these results and evaluates the impact of the variability on sound propagation