Experimental studies of sound diffraction by moving inhomogeneities under shallow-water conditions

The experimental data on the sound propagation and diffraction by moving te st inhomogeneities under lake conditions are presented. It is shown that th e diffracted signals under multimode propagation are adequately described b y simplified theoretical models proposed earlier. The detection of the diff racted signals against the background of a fluctuating direct signal is dem onstrated for the reception by a horizontal or vertical array. It is also s hown that the direct and diffracted signals observed in the lake are simila r in their characteristics to the signals in a shallow sea, which allows on e to use the lake experiment for testing various underwater acoustic techni ques intended for shallow-sea conditions. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodi ca".