The speed of sound in the marine environment and its calculation (review)

Authors

UDC

534.231

EDN

TTMCJG

DOI:

10.31429/vestnik-23-3-55-67

Abstract

For sound propagation in the seas and oceans, it is important to know not the absolute value of the speed of sound, but the shape of its profile. The range of sound propagation depends on the shape of the profile. The speed of sound propagation strongly depends on temperature (T, °C), salinity (S, ‰), and hydrostatic pressure (P, atm.). The article presents monthly average vertical profiles of temperature, sound velocity, and seasonal salinity profiles for the central part of the Black Sea. Temperature has the greatest effect on the speed of sound at sea. The axis of the underwater sound channel coincides with the minimum temperature value. The axis of the underwater sound channel is located at a depth of 35–55 m. In winter, the underwater sound channel is poorly expressed, practically absent. The axis of the underwater sound channel in the Black Sea, depending on the season, is located at a depth of 30–80 m. The paper presents the main empirical formulas for calculating the sound velocity profile in seawater. The analysis of empirical formulas is performed. Each of the above equations has its own error in calculating the speed of sound. The choice of an equation depends on the acceptable accuracy for its particular application.

Keywords:

sound propagation velocity, temperature, salinity, hydrostatic pressure, sea water, underwater sound channel

Funding information

The study did not have sponsorship.

Authors info

  • Olga R. Lastovenko

    канд. физ.-мат. наук, доцент, доцент кафедры "Высшая математика" Севастопольского государственного университета

  • Viktor A. Lisyutin

    канд. физ.-мат. наук, доцент, доцент кафедры "Физика" Севастопольского государственного университета

  • Zhanna V. Malenko

    канд. физ.-мат. наук, доцент кафедры фундаментальных дисциплин Морского института им. вице-адмирала В.А. Корнилова – филиала Государственного морского университета им. адм. Ф.Ф. Ушакова

  • Aleksandr A. Yaroshenko

    д-р физ.-мат. наук, профессор, заведующий кафедрой фундаментальных дисциплин Морскоого института им. вице-адмирала В.А. Корнилова – филиала Государственного морского университета им. адм. Ф.Ф. Ушакова; профессор кафедры "Высшая математика" Севастопольского государственного университета

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Issue

Vol. 23 (2026) No. 3

Pages

55-67

Section

Physics

Dates

Submitted

February 1, 2026

Accepted

September 23, 2026

Published

September 25, 2026

How to Cite

[1]
Lastovenko, O.R., Lisyutin, V.A., Malenko, Z.V., Yaroshenko, A.A., The speed of sound in the marine environment and its calculation (review). Ecological Bulletin of Research Centers of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, 2026, т. 23, № 3, pp. 55–67. DOI: 10.31429/vestnik-23-3-55-67

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Copyright (c) 2026 Ластовенко О.Р, Лисютин В.А., Маленко Ж.В., Ярошенко А.А.

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