Linear and nonlinear measures of ocean acoustic environmental sensitivity

Abstract

This letter defines linear, linearized, and nonlinear measures of environmental sensitivity for ocean acoustic propagation that account for realistic uncertainties in various environmental parameters (water-column sound-speed profile and seabed geoacoustic properties). Simple interpretations of sensitivity are based on the implicit assumption of a linear relationship between parameter sensitivity and parameter uncertainty. This assumption is examined by comparing the three sensitivity measures over a range of parameter uncertainties about the actual assumed environmental uncertainty. Sensitivity range and depth dependencies are illustrated for realistic geoacoustic uncertainties and oceanographic variability of the sound-speed profile.