The Effects of Sound Speed Profile to the Convergence Zone in Deep Water

The structure of a sound speed profile (SSP) in deep water causes refraction of sound rays and Convergence Zones (CZs) of high intensity where the rays focus at shallow depth. Study of sound field characteristics in the CZs has always been the focus of deep-water acoustics research. Many studies have been conducted on sound propagation in different parts of the oceans with different environments and, in this paper, the range and width of CZ is analyzed in the East Indian Ocean (EIO) and the South China Sea (SCS). Through the experimental data collected in different seasons with the propagation conditions change in the EIO and the SCS, we observe that the SSPs in different marine environments have a significant impact on the CZs of deep water. The sound channel mixing layer and isothermal layer have great effect on the CZ ranges. The water depths in the two experimental areas are similar, the range of the first CZ in the EIO is 7–8 km farther than that in the SCS, and the width of the CZs in the EIO is about 2–3 km narrower than that in the SCS. The surface mixed layer and the thermocline affect the CZ width but has little effect on the CZ range when the sound speed at the source and the bottom are practically the same. As the propagation conditions change along the seasons in the EIO, the range of the first CZ is almost the same, but the width of the CZs in the summer is about 2 km narrower than that in the spring. The water depth affects the CZ width but has little effect on the CZ range if the CZs can be formed. The different CZ characteristics between EIO and SCS are explained by both theoretical calculation and numerical simulation. The influence of the SSP structure and water depth on the CZ range are analyzed and the corresponding mechanism is explained. The research results are of great significance for underwater acoustic detection in deep sea.