Sound absorption in sea water: A third chemical relaxation

Abstract

Sound absorption in sea water is dominated by chemical relaxations involving magnesium sulfate at higher frequencies (relaxation frequency fr∠100 kHz) and boric acid at lower frequencies (fr∠1 kHz). A third intermediate-frequency relaxation involving magnesium and carbonic acid has been found. Like the boric acid relaxation, the absorption increases exponentially with pH in the sea water range.