Process / pipelineUnderwater acoustics
Sonar Equation
The sonar equation is a fundamental framework for predicting the detection range and performance of active and passive sonar systems in underwater environments. Systematized by Robert Urick in his seminal 1983 work, the sonar equation quantifies the acoustic signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) needed for detection, accounting for source level, propagation loss, noise characteristics, and receiver sensitivity. It is the cornerstone of underwater acoustic system design, naval detection systems, marine research, and subsea communication.
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Sources
- Urick, R. J. (1983). Principles of Underwater Sound (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 978-0070660816
- Burdic, W. S. (1984). Underwater Acoustic System Analysis (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN: 978-0135364529
- Medwin, H., & Clay, C. S. (1992). Fundamentals of Acoustical Oceanography. Academic Press. ISBN: 978-0125017305