SOUND-PROPAGATION THROUGH HYDROLOGICAL FRONTS IN THE BARENTS SEA

The polar and the arctic fronts are the principal fronts in the Barent s Sea. Data on the location and parameters of these fronts are reporte d for various seasons. The stable value of the front width is about 1 - 2 km, the depth is about 100 m or down to the bottom. The effect of natural factors and underwater experimental geometry on sound propagat ion through a front was numerically investigated. The natural factors are the hydrological parameters and their seasonal variations, while t he underwater experimental geometry includes the location of the sourc e and the receiver with respect to the front. Calculations were perfor med for a frequency of 2 kHz with depths of the source and the receive r ranging from 50 to 200 m. The front is shown to considerably affect the propagation anomaly. The strength of the effect depends upon the v ertical sound profile on either side of the front and upon the distanc e between the source and the front. The sign of the effect - that is, whether it increases or decreases the propagation anomaly - depends up on the mutual arrangement of the source and the front and upon the sea son.