DOWNSLOPE MODAL ENERGY-CONVERSION

The significance of energy transfer between acoustic normal modes as t hey propagate downslope in a refractive sound channel is investigated. Specifically, two criteria for effective conversion of sound energy f rom high to low modes are established. In addition, the results from t hree simulation case studies are presented. These results show that fo r a low-frequency (70-Hz) bottom-lying sound source, the conversion of energy to the lowest modes is significant when the source depth is sh allow. However such conversion does not occur when the depth of a bott om-lying source is near the axis of the deep sound channel.