Bottom bistatic scattering: experimental results and model comparison for a carbonate sediment

Abstract

Bistatic scattering measurements were carried out under the Coastal Benthic Boundary Layer (CBBL) program. The results presented here are for a carbonate sand-silt-clay, and the data were collected in Februar) 1995 near Key West, Florida. The experiments used a directional source operating at 40 kHz in conjunct~on wtth a mobrle, steerable, directional receiver. The data set obtained is much larger than previous sets collected via the same general procedure. The experiment is briefly outlined, and the improvements resulting in the larger data set are htghlighted. A model that accounts for scattering due to interjace roughness and volume inhomogeneities is then summarized. Finally, the bistatic scattering results are compared with this model. The parameters needed in the model were measured by other CBBL researchers during the same time period and in the same area as the acoustic experiments. [This work was supported by ONR through the CBBL program.]