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Old 03-03-06, 08:28 PM   #4
Bill Nichols
Master of Defense
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Default Re: Arctic Sound Speed Profiles

Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaQueen
In my Kara Sea scenario, as I've been honing it, I've been faced with a dilema. DW lacks a truely satisfactory SSP for arctic scenarios.

Arctic waters are nearly isothermal, so at first I elected to use the "Surface Duct" SSP. I hoped the game engine would treat it as a big mixed layer, essentially. Unfortunately, that proved to be a bad idea because even in shallow water, occaisionally, a sonic layer would appear, undermining the essential characteristic of arctic waters - there is no thermocline.

So... I'm left with the "Bottom Limited" SSP, which will increase the speed of sound uniformly to the bottom. It doesn't sit well with me for other reasons, though.

Do any fellow sonar geeks out there have any thoughts about what the best compromise is?
In actuality, if temperature remains constant then speed will increase with depth, due to the compressibility of water at higher pressures. Granted, it's not a strong function, but in deep water it's important (it's why convergence zones exist).
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