The method of matched-field source tracking by ambiguity surface averaging
is demonstrated using low-frequency shallow-water acoustic data recorded on
a vertical array. In this method, source motion is taken into account by a
veraging values from individual, short time-average matched-field ambiguity
functions; each resulting average value corresponds to a trial source trac
k. The result is a new ambiguity function which depends on six parameters:
the three-dimensional coordinates of the initial and final source positions
. A simplification to four parameters is made by assuming the source remain
s at a constant depth. Only mild restrictions are made on trial tracks cons
idered, and the resulting ambiguity surfaces can be plotted as a function o
f final coordinates by holding the initial coordinates fixed at the optimal
position. When applied to experimental data, the number of high sidelobes
present in individual matched-field ambiguity surfaces is greatly reduced.
Also, the technique appears robust to uncertainties in replica computation
(due to various mismatch problems) and periods when the signal-to-noise rat
io is low. (C) 2001 Acoustical Society of America.