The Acoustic Surface Reverberation EXperiment (ASREX)
ASREX was an acoustic surface reverberation experiment that
was performed in the North Atlantic Ocean during the winter of
1993-94. Observations of acoustic backscatter from the ocean surface
were made from the central University of MIAMI
mooring at frequencies ranging from 100 to 800 Hz at twelve minute
intervals during a three month period. Simultaneous measurements were
made by other investigators (from SIO, WHOI, and IOS - BC, Canada) of a variety of
environmental parameters. Wind speed and direction, air and sea
temperature and current fields were among those parameters measured at
the DISCUS mooring. The SEATEX mooring measured wave spectra. The
presence and nature of bubble clouds were observed with devices that
detected anomalies in the near surface sound speed (MELVILLE mooring)
and using high frequency side scan sonars (ELSI mooring). Interest in
the results of this experiment comes from the acoustic,
meteorological, and oceanographic communities as the data will extend
our understanding of the physical mechanisms involved in acoustic
backscatter from the ocean surface as well as interactions and mixing
processes at the air-sea interface.
