Frequency-selective attenuation of sound propagation and reverberation in the Yellow Sea

In the summer of 1991, sound propagation and reverberation experiments were carried out in the Yellow Sea. Explosive sound sources and omnidirectional hydrophones were used. The sound speed profile consisted of a warmer surfa ce isovelocity layer, a strong thermocline and a cooler isovelocity bottom layer. When both the source and the receiver were located above the thermoc line, the transmission loss along a certain course and the non-directional average reverberation intensity showed similar frequency-selective attenuat ion at around 1300 Hz. On the basis of experimental results and some circum stantial evidence, the authors believe that the observed frequency-selectiv e attenuation is due to swimbladder-bearing fish (probably, anchovies) livi ng only above the thermocline. (C) 1999 Academic Press.