Effect of density stratification on sound waves

The theory of sound propagation in mediums with continuous density stratification suggests that a number of interesting effects should occur. For example, acoustic waves will be totally reflected from a medium of strong density gradient, even in the absence of sound velocity contrasts. In this paper the magnitude of such effects is determined and discussed in connection with (1) a transition layer at the water-sediment interface on the ocean bottom and (2) certain properties of atmospheric sound.