Figure 5.3 shows examples of sound speed profiles. The Weddell Sea does not have a thermal stratification, hence no temperature effect on c . Enter a value for temperature, a value for salinity and a value for pressure and press the calculate button. Algorithms for computation of fundamental properties of seawater. Pap. in Mar. Sci.
Different rays are independent of each other.
Sound paths are reversible. As the stratification in the ocean is nearly horizontal, sound propagation in the vertical is practically along a straight path. Figure 5.4 gives examples of horizontal sound paths. In this case sound speed increases below the surface due to the increase in pressure before the normal decrease due to temperature takes over. The resulting sound speed maximum at about 100 m depth creates a shadow zone, since all sound rays bend away from that depth.