Towards better sonar performance predictions

Detailed computer modeling has conclusively shown that out-of-plane scattering and small-scale bathymetric roughness influence the backscattered acoustic intensity in nontrivial ways for acoustically hard surfaces such as sand, gravel, shells and rock. This paper presents a preliminary technique for including these effects statistically in sonar performance modeling by adjusting the sea floor material parameter presently used in sonar models to account for them.