Underwater acoustics is a branch of acoustics that focuses on the study of sound and its behavior in water. It involves the generation, propagation, and reception of sound waves in aquatic environments, including oceans, lakes, and rivers. Underwater acoustics encompasses various phenomena related to sound, such as its transmission through water, reflection and scattering off different objects and surfaces, attenuation due to absorption and spreading, and the interaction of sound with marine life.

Photo by NOAA Fisheries

The field of underwater acoustics has numerous applications, including sonar systems for navigation, communication, and detection of underwater objects, studying marine life and their communication patterns, oceanographic research, monitoring and mitigation of underwater noise pollution, and underwater imaging and mapping. Scientists and engineers in this field use specialized equipment, such as hydrophones, to measure and analyze underwater sounds and develop models and techniques to understand and manipulate underwater acoustics phenomena.