Seabed characteristics from ambient noise at three shallow water sites in Northern Indian Ocean

Ambient noise measurements at three sites along the Indian continental shelf, with different water column and seabed, are analyzed to derive vertical directionality and further estimation of seabed characteristics. Directionality pattern is interpreted using features in the sound speed profiles, in terms of noise notch, surface duct, surface bottom reflections, direct arrivals, and high bottom loss arrivals. Reflection loss estimated from the field directionality is seen to be the same for a particular site and gives an estimate of the sea bottom. Seabed characteristics such as critical angle and reflection coefficient from field directionality correlate well with theoretical estimation using ground truths. (C) 2013 Acoustical Society of America