Determining the Distance to an Underwater Source in Convergence Zones

Abstract

An algorithm has been substantiated for passive determining the distance to sound sources in convergence zones (CZ), which are observed in most deep-sea areas of the World Ocean. The algorithm is based on the well-known pattern of formation of the ray structure of the acoustic field of the source signal at the input of the receiving array in CZ. The pattern is as follows: when a source enters a CZ by crossing its near boundary, the maximum energy of its signal arrives at the array along rays with negative grazing angles, and when the source enters a CZ by crossing its far boundary, along rays with positive grazing angles. The accuracy in determining distance using the proposed algorithm for detecting surface and underwater sources is assessed.