An introduction to acoustics in the ocean. Fundamental acoustic concepts including the simple harmonic oscillator, waves on strings, and the acoustic wave equation; the sonar equation; sound generation and reception by underwater acoustic transducers and arrays; basics of sound propagation; reflection and scattering from ocean boundaries. Spring semester offered every year; satisfies core course requirement in Ocean Engineering.

Overview of typical applications that involve mapping the sediment-water interface in the ocean and adjacent waters. Emphasis on defining the task-specific resolution and accuracy requirements. Fundamentals of acoustics relevant to seabed mapping. Progression through typical configurations involving single beam, sidescan, phase differing and multibeam systems. Integration of asynchronous 3D position, orientation and sound speed measurements with sonar-relative acoustic travel time and angles. Analysis of impact of offsets, mis-alignments and latency in all integrated sensors.

Independent study for exceptional students. Individual reading, writing, or laboratory work carried out under the tutelage of a faculty member. May be used as a technical elective for the ocean engineering major if taken for 3-4 credits.

Small amplitude, linear wave theory, standing and propagating waves, wave energy, refraction, diffraction, transformation in shallow water, statistics of random seas, spectral energy density, generating eave time series using the random phase methods forces on structures, Froude scaling of wave tank experiments, nonlinear effects. Description of tides as long waves, equilibrium tide, mathematical modeling including friction, nonlinear effects, and Coriolis forces, tidal analysis, the Great Bay Estuarine System as a case study. Requires knowledge of calculus-based physics and differential equations.