An important issue in statistical modeling related to the number of independent random realizations required to obtain reliable results in studying the propagation and scattering of a low-frequency acoustic signal in a shallow-water waveguide with a horizontal absorbing liquid bottom and a random rough surface simulating surface waves is considered. Calculations of signal attenuation and fluctuations in intensity in an Arctic-type waveguide with developed surface waves and a reflective bottom boundary are presented. It is shown that since the influence of a random surface on the statistical characteristics of signal intensity is quite small for paths of typical length in shallow water, the ensemble of realizations for reliable calculations of these characteristics cannot be small but must include hundreds of surface wave realizations.
Gulin et al. (Sun,) studied this question.