HOS-based modelling of low-frequency underwater acoustic noise for signal detection in shallow waters

This paper aims to provide realistic modelling of generic noise probability density functions (pdfs). The target is to obtain a parametric model depending on few parameters, and being so general to be able to describe many kinds of noise (e.g., symmetric or asymmetric, with variable sharpness). A very general and easy-to-use function which is based on HOS parameters is presented and compared with other HOS-based pdfs; it is called asymmetric generalized Gaussian. A real case study is considered for comparing the various pdfs; it consists in modelling real underwater acoustic noise at low frequencies and applying the estimated models to designed locally optimum detection (LOD) tests.