Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-42gr6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T06:56:00.284Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Acoustic radiation by ocean surface waves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 July 2000

STEVE ARENDT
Affiliation:
NorthWest Research Associates, Colorado Research Associates Division, 3380 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80301, USA
DAVID C. FRITTS
Affiliation:
NorthWest Research Associates, Colorado Research Associates Division, 3380 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80301, USA

Abstract

We calculate the radiation of acoustic waves into the atmosphere by surface gravity waves on the ocean surface. We show that because of the phase speed mismatch between surface gravity waves and acoustic waves, a single surface wave radiates only evanescent acoustic waves. However, owing to nonlinear terms in the acoustic source, pairs of ocean surface waves can radiate propagating acoustic waves if the two surface waves propagate in almost equal and opposite directions. We derive an analytic expression for the acoustic radiation by a pair of ocean surface waves, and then extend the result to the case of an arbitrary spectrum of ocean surface waves. We present some examples for both the two-dimensional and three-dimensional regimes. Of particular note are the findings that the efficiency of acoustic radiation increases at higher wavenumbers, and the fact that the directionality of the acoustic radiation is often independent of the shape of the spectrum.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2000 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)