A Robust Method for Extracting Convergence Zone Features in a Horizontally Inhomogeneous Deep-Sea Environment

The characteristics of convergence zones (CZ) in deep-sea acoustic fields, such as CZ location, CZ width, and CZ gain, are difficult to accurately describe. To achieve an engineering-oriented, quantitative extraction of deep-sea acoustic CZ features, a novel method based on spherical wave attenuation and acoustic propagation is proposed. This method accurately extracts deep-sea acoustic CZ features from propagation loss curves using spherical wave attenuation, under both the influence and absence of oceanic fronts. Compared to traditional methods, this approach demonstrates higher precision, showcasing its effectiveness and stability. Additionally, this method enables successful two-dimensional visualizations of deep-sea CZ shapes and boundaries both vertically and horizontally, for scenarios with and without oceanic fronts, allowing for the visualization of CZ shapes in deep-sea acoustic fields. Simulation experiments validate that the proposed method is more accurate in extracting deep-sea CZ features compared to traditional methods. The comparison of CZ characteristics with and without oceanic fronts also corroborates previous research findings.