Low‐frequency attenuation in the Pacific Ocean

There is increasing evidence that the low‐frequency sound absorption in the Pacific is less than that in the Atlantic. The origin of the excess absorption below 1 kHz has recently been identified as a boron relaxation. A compilation of available Pacific data appears to show one‐half the boron absorption found in the Atlantic, which suggests significant differences in the chemical composition of the oceans.

Subject Classification: [43]30.20, [43]20.35.