A Relationship between Ocean Circulation and Volume Reverberation in the Subarctic Northeast Pacific Ocean (Gulf of Alaska).

• Main Authors: Browning, David G, Turner, R G, Power, J W
• Other Authors: NAVAL UNDERWATER SYSTEMS CENTER NEW LONDON CT NEW LONDON LAB
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1986
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Acoustics; *REVERBERATION; *OCEAN CURRENTS; *UNDERWATER SOUND; *SOUND TRANSMISSION; ACOUSTIC SCATTERING; ALASKA GULF; CIRCULATION; DISTRIBUTION; FREQUENCY; INTEGRATED SYSTEMS; LOW TEMPERATURE; MEASUREMENT; NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN; OCEANS; PACIFIC OCEAN; SCATTERING; SPECTRA; STRENGTH(GENERAL); SUBARCTIC REGIONS; UPWELLING; VOLUME; WATER; *Ocean circulation; Alaskan Gyre; Gyres; *Volume reverberation; LPN-NUSC-A60080; Gulf of Alaska; Pacific; Subarctic; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA189178; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA189178

Earlier investigations have shown a significant change in integrated acoustic scattering and spectral characteristics when transmitting into the subarctic (above 40 north latitude) northeast Pacific Ocean. An analysis of an extensive series of volume reverberation measurements obtained by Turner indicates a strong influence of the counterclockwise circulation around the Alaskan Gyre on the distribution of scattering strengths. At higher frequencies (5-20 kHz) the greater scattering strengths are found in the relatively warm California undercurrent water which flows around the perimeter for the gyre. At lower (1.25-5 kHz) frequencies, the greater scattering strengths are found in the relatively cold water such is found in the upwelled subarctic water at the center of the gyre. This implies a significant change in the type of scatterers between these frequency domains. Keywords: Subarctic pacific ocean. Presented at the Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America (111th) Cleveland, OH, 12-16 May 86.