Publication Date

3-11-2026

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

Volume

43

Issue

3

DOI

10.1175/JTECH-D-24-0124.1

First Page

267

Last Page

287

Abstract

Ocean acoustic thermometry is simulated in the North Atlantic using two global ocean state estimates to assess its potential contributions to the Global Ocean Observing System. Acoustic data were simulated for transatlantic acoustic propagation from Cabo Verde to Bermuda, a 4183-km archetypal path across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Acoustic scattering by internal waves was simulated using a range-dependent, stochastic model added to the ocean state estimates. While the Ridge blocks acoustic propagation traveling deeper than about 3000 m, and internal-wave sound speed scintillations cause prohibitive scattering of later-arriving rays, it is apparent that O(10) acoustic ray arrivals on this path are likely resolvable. These rays generally cycled between 500 and 3000 m. Understanding the details of the acoustic scattering by the small-scale processes like internal waves, together with patches of warm and salty Mediterranean water, requires new observations. A simple inverse was applied to simulated travel time data derived from a 26-yr state estimate. The uncertainty of the tomographic estimates of temperature, averaged over basinwide range and between 500-and 3000-m depth, was about 3 m8C. A sparse, basin-scale array of such acoustic measurements would substantially reduce the uncertainty of basin-averaged temperature, while providing excellent temporal resolution and some depth resolution. The improvements to ocean resolution when tomographic information is combined with all other data in ocean state estimates, particularly in abyssal regions, have yet to be determined.

Funding Number

N0001424WX02206

Funding Sponsor

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Keywords

Acoustic measurements/effects, Atlantic Ocean, Climate variability, In situ oceanic observations, Ocean models, Oceanic variability

Comments

© Copyright 2026 American Meteorological Society (AMS). For permission to reuse any portion of this Work, please contact permissions@ametsoc.org. Any use of material in this Work that is determined to be “fair use” under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 U.S. Code § 107) or that satisfies the conditions specified in Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 USC § 108) does not require the AMS’s permission. Republication, systematic reproduction, posting in electronic form, such as on a website or in a searchable database, or other uses of this material, except as exempted by the above statement, requires written permission or a license from the AMS. All AMS journals and monograph publications are registered with the Copyright Clearance Center (https://www.copyright.com). Additional details are provided in the AMS Copyright Policy statement, available on the AMS website (https://www.ametsoc.org/PUBSCopyrightPolicy).

Department

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

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