Wind induced ambient noise modelling and comparison with field measurements in Arabian Sea

The present work focuses on modelling of wind induced ambient noise and comparison of noise properties with field measurements. Time series ambient noise data were taken from shallow waters of Arabian Sea, using a noise recording system consisting of a vertical array with twelve hydrophones. From the field measurements vertical coherence and noise spectral level were estimated and compared with the predictions from Harrison's formulas for coherence and noise level based on ray theory. Considering that the noise generated by the action of wind dominates in mid frequency range, this study concentrates on the band 0.2-5 kHz. Modelled results of both coherence and noise level compare well with field measurements. Moreover the simulated fluctuations in noise level with wind speed are in accordance with measured data. This is an initial attempt made to simulate noise properties in Arabian Sea and the model can be further used for geoacoustic inversion for extracting seabed parameters of the site.