Ship source measurement in shallow water using an enhanced seabed critical angle method (PDF)

Ainslie, M.A., A.O. Macgillivray, R. Yubero, C.D. Jong, L.S. Wang

DOI: 10.25144/22249

Distant ships are a dominant source of ambient underwater sound at low frequency (50–100 Hz),1, 2 while nearby ships can cause disturbance at frequencies of multiple kilohertz.3 Measurement of a ship’s source level (SL) is needed for soundscape prediction, for quiet ship certification and for validation of prediction models. An international measurement standard exists for the determination of SL using deep water measurements (ISO 17208-24). A draft international standard (DIS) for measuring SL in shallow water, currently under development (ISO/DIS 17208-35), needs an SL formula that is both accurate and straightforward to implement.