Abstract:

In continential shelf regions, large-amplitude internal tides are believed to spawn smaller wavelength solitonlike waves. During the summers of 1995 and 1996, the SESAME experiments were performed in the North West Approaches to the British Isles. The purpose of these experiments was to measure the properties (length scales, amplitudes, velocities, and the time of occurrence) of these solitonlike waves and determine their effects on acoustic propagation. In this paper wavelet analysis is applied to some of the long-term temperature measurements in order to determine soliton properties. The results of the wavelet analysis and its implications on acoustic transmission will be discussed. [Work supported by ONR and NRL.]