Modeling ambient noise in three‐dimensional ocean environments

A model is developed for the calculation of the spatial properties of the surface‐generated noise in a three‐dimensional ocean. This is an extension of the work of Kuperman and Ingenito [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 67, 1988–1996 (1980)], which used a normal‐mode representation of the noise field in a stratified ocean. Noise fields are simulated for both point receivers and vertical line receivers. These examples show how the spatial and directional characteristics of the noise field are affected by the ocean environment. For example, as is apparent in ambient noise data, surface noise propagating at high angles over a sloping ocean bottom is deflected into shallower angles. Also, matched‐field processing simulations in three‐dimensional ocean environments can be done in a consistent manner: signals and surface‐generated noise are modeled by propagating through the same environment with the same theory.