Effect of the sound velocity stratification in the bottom sediment layer on the diffraction focusing of an acoustic field in a shallow sea

It is shown that an increase in the sound velocity gradient in the bottom sediment layer results in the formation of additional zones of diffraction focusing of the acoustic field generated by a vertical line array in the water layer. It is also established that, depending on the sound velocity step at the upper boundary of the sediment layer, the diffraction focusing of the acoustic field in the main focusing zones can be enhanced or reduced. (C) 2002 MAIK "NaukalInterperiodica".