Verification of the single scattering analytical model for mode coupling effects caused by solitons

The shallow-water environment poses many obstacles to submerged and surface operations. Not least of them are the obstacles posed to acoustic detection of quiet contacts. The presence of Internal Solitary Waves (ISWs) within this environmet induce acoustic variability and phase fluctuations, which limit signal processing capability and further complicate operations in this environment. However, a better understanding of how ISWs affect sound propagation may lead us to take advantage of some of the effects of the ISWs, such as how ISWs focus acoustic energy into certain modes allowing detection of quiet sources above background noise. An understanding of the phase fluctuation may also lead to better processing algorithms. While multiple numerical simulations have been conducted, which allow for the effects of ISWs to be intuited from them, an analytical model that can predict the effects on acoustic propagation by the physical parameters of the ISWs had not been produced until Professor John A. Colosi of the Naval Postgraduate School developed a single scattering analytical model of those effects. In this thesis, the Colosi Single Scattering model will be compared to an accepted 3-D PE model in order to further validate the model. In the comparison, numerous simulations from both models have been used to determine how closely the Single Scattering model can predict the vertical mode coupling effects of ISWs.http://archive.org/details/verificationofsi109454530US Navy (USN) author.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited