Marine acoustics

Objectives

The course shall give a general introduction to the fundamental principles of marine acoustics, with emphasis on physical mechanisms, laws, relationships, and methods. The course shall provide an understanding of central basic methods and problems relevant for the use of sound in marine environments.

Content

The course introduces fundamental methods in marine acoustics, as a basis for both technology development and basic research within marine acoustics. The course addresses acoustic wave propagation in the sea, reflection and transmission of acoustic waves, scattering from objects, surfaces, and volume segments, noise and signal fluctuations, generation and reception of sound waves with acoustic transducers / sonar systems, and basic sonar signal processing. The course gives a general and broad introduction to marine acoustics, with emphasis on physical principles. The course can be of interest for students in related fields, such as optics and industrial instrumentation.

On completion of the course the student shall have the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The student can

• explain central concepts, laws, and models in marine acoustics
• explain fundamental physical principles underlying the generation, propagation, reception, and processing of sound waves in underwater environments
• explain central models for the ocean as an acoustic waveguide
• describe reflection and spreading of acoustic signals from objects, seafloor, and surface at a basic level
• describe the ocean as acoustic environment and sound propagation medium.

Skills

The student can

• use fundamental laws and relationships to solve relatively simple problems in marine acoustics.

General expertise

• The student has insight in fundamental principles of marine acoustics, with emphasis on physical mechanisms, laws, and relationships, and understanding of central basic methods and problems that are relevant in practical applications of sound in the ocean.