Acoustic Propagation and Transmission Loss Analysis in Shallow Water of Northern Arabian Sea

This study investigates acoustic propagation and transmission loss in shallow water at an unexplored site in the northern Arabian Sea near the Pakistan coastline using a normal mode theoretical framework. Sound propagation in shallow water with range-independent bathymetry was analyzed using a customized Kraken C program to compute eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. The sound speed profile and clay silt sediment samples of the northern Arabian Sea, which characterize the water column and ocean bottom, respectively, were determined. Coherent and incoherent transmission losses for frequencies ranging from 50 to 500 Hz were calculated across different ranges and depths. Results indicate significant intensity fluctuations with increasing range, leading to higher transmission loss. Low frequencies (50–225 Hz) exhibit more significant transmission loss, while higher frequencies (230–500 Hz) show reduced loss. Transmission loss is higher for receivers at 19 m depth compared to those at shallower depths (8 m and 12 m) because the receivers are positioned near the layer of bottom sediments. Factors such as source and receiver depth, sediment properties, bottom roughness, and sound frequency significantly influence transmission loss. The novel dataset for the region supports the assessment of sonar performance, underwater communication, navigation, and marine life exploration.