FLUCTUATIONS OF HIGH-FREQUENCY SHALLOW-WATER SEA-FLOOR REVERBERATION

High-frequency shallow-water reverberation statistics were measured from a seafloor that was covered by a thick layer of coarse shells. The reverberation statistics are presented as a function of frequency (20-180 kHz), grazing angle (8.8-degrees-28-degrees), and source beamwidths (1.2-degrees-16-degrees). In most cases the reverberation statistics did not follow a Rayleigh fading model. The model dependence of the reverberation statistics ranged from near Gaussian (high grazing angle) to beyond log normal (low grazing angle). The results suggest that small scale variations in bottom scattering properties and system beamwidth will significantly change the model dependence of the reverberation statistics.