Title :
A Physical Model for the Distribution of Sonar Clutter from a Rough Interface
Author_Institution :
Appl. Phys. Lab., Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD
Abstract :
A physical model for clutter from rough interface scatter in low frequency active sonar systems is developed. Perturbation theory relates the mean scattering strength from a rough surface to the mean rough surface wavenumber spectrum at the Bragg wavenumber. Perturbation scattering theory is generalized to relate the clutter statistics to statistics of the interface surface roughness spectrum evaluated at Bragg wavenumbers. Focusing on application to ocean bottom reverberation, an examination of high resolution bathymetry data reveals that bathymetry spectra obey power laws. The power laws apply not only to the mean spectra, but also to higher order statistics. Therefore, these power laws can be used to extrapolate lower resolution bathymetry data to the required Bragg wavenumbers. The non-Gaussian distributions of clutter are then directly related to the non-Gaussian distributions of these rough interface wavenumber spectra
Keywords :
Bragg gratings; Gaussian distribution; bathymetry; clutter; extrapolation; ocean waves; perturbation theory; reverberation; underwater sound; Bragg wavenumber; bathymetry spectra; clutter statistics; data extrapolation; high resolution bathymetry data; higher order statistics; interface surface roughness spectrum; low frequency active sonar systems; lower resolution bathymetry data; nonGaussian distributions; ocean bottom reverberation; perturbation scattering theory; power laws; rough interface scattering; rough surface wavenumber spectrum; sonar clutter distribution; Frequency; Higher order statistics; Oceanographic techniques; Oceans; Rough surfaces; Scattering; Sea surface; Sonar; Surface roughness; Surface waves;
Conference_Titel :
OCEANS 2006
Conference_Location :
Boston, MA
Print_ISBN :
1-4244-0114-3
Electronic_ISBN :
1-4244-0115-1
DOI :
10.1109/OCEANS.2006.306940
