Interference Versus Frequency in Measurements in a Shallow Lake

When an omnidirectional projector and hydrophone are closely spaced and in shallow water, and sound is transmitted from one to the other, a large interference signal is superimposed on the direct signal. If the received signal is plotted as a function of frequency, as in a calibration measurement, the interference signal amplitude appears to be an inconsistent series of irregular sharp peaks and dips. A mathematical analysis of the condition where the transducers are midway between a water‐air surface and a bubble‐covered bottom shows that the shape, amplitude, and frequency of the interference pattern are predictable as the result of a large number of multireflection paths.