Sound waves are the only practical means of remote investigation of the
sea and its bottom and transmission in seawater. Underwater acoustics
has become one of the major technologies used in the exploration and
exploitation of the oceans for scientific, industrial, or military/naval
purposes. It is widely employed in the fields of ocean engineering,
seafloor mapping, defence, oceanography, navigation, and fisheries.
Dr Xavier Lurton is a renowned specialist in underwater acoustics. He
has worked in this field as a scientist, engineer, project manager and
teacher since 1981 and has participated in many scientific projects,
systems developments and at-sea cruises. In the second edition of his
book, Dr Lurton provides an updated and extended introduction to
underwater acoustics, including coverage of the physical processes and
their basic modeling, different underwater acoustic systems and their
practical applications and a description and assessment of the various
technologies. Dr Lurton has extensive experience as a lecturer in
undergraduate and postgraduate schools, including naval academies. This
book is based on his direct, first-hand experience of the many aspects
of underwater acoustics in seas around the world, at the forefront of
current research and development efforts.