Measurements and modeling of acoustic propagation in a scale model canyon

Two scale-model acoustic propagation experiments were conducted in a laboratory tank to investigate three-dimensional (3D) propagation effects induced by range-dependent bathymetry. The model bathymetry, patterned after measured bathymetric data, represents a portion of the Hudson Canyon at 1:7500 scale. The bottom condition in the scale model is nearly pressure release, and as a result, the bottom reflection and backscattering are stronger than that of the real ocean environment. Measurements are presented for propagation paths oriented along and across the axis of the canyon. The measured data are interpreted using both 3D adiabatic-mode and 3D ray models. For propagation along the canyon axis, horizontal focusing is observed, and the out-of-plane arrivals are identified using the vertical mode/horizontal ray analogy to determine which wall or walls of the canyon refracted the sound. For the across-canyon propagation, out-of-plane arrivals are observed for both forward scattered and backward scattered sound. Using the 3D ray model, an investigation of the horizontal and vertical launch angles is used to identify features on the canyon walls responsible for the measured out-of-plane propagation. For both the along- and across-canyon experiments, the 3D ray model produced a solution that was more accurate and less computationally intensive.