Theoretical analysis of acoustic pulse propagation through forest edges

Sound propagation through forest edges can be complicated due to the sudden and significant change in propagation environment. One approach to estimating the coherent and diffuse sound fields due to an acoustic pulse in or near a forest boundary is to use the energy-based radiative transfer (RT) theory [Muhlestein et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 143 (2018)]. This technique accounts for propagation from the source to scattering locations through an effective medium, single scattering, and propagation from the scattering locations to the measurement site. This paper applies the RT theory to two cases: an acoustic pulse source located within a forest and a receiver located outside, and vice versa. The results are compared with experimental data.