Long-Range Atlantic Acoustic Multipath Identification.

Multipath data from three long-range (900 kilometers) transmissions are examined. Two of the transmissions follow similar tracks, but are separated by the Gulf Stream at the receiving end. The third, which is substantially free of Gulf Stream influence, has been intensively studied Spiesberger et al. (J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 67, 2011-7 (1980)). A package of computer algorithms based on the geometrical optics approximation was developed to model and analyze the acoustic transmission. Path identification with ray calculations was attempted for the two transmission channels exhibiting stable multipath with success for the major features of the path structures. Excessive smoothing of the sound speed profile which eliminates the influence of the Atlantic eighteen-degree celsius water mass in the upper layers is shown to degrade the identification of early arrivals. The slight curvature of the ocean sound speed profile around four kilometers of depth also was critical to early arrival identification. The effect of weak range dependence was small while the effect of a gradual sloping bottom near one receiver was significant.