Statistical analysis and hybrid modeling of high-frequency underwater acoustic channels affected by wind-driven surface waves

High frequency is a solution to high data-rate underwater acoustic communications. Extensive studies have been conducted on high-frequency (>40 kHz) acoustic channels, which are strongly susceptible to surface waves. The corresponding channel statistics related to acoustic communications, however, still deserve systematic investigation. Here, an efficient channel modeling method based on statistical analysis is proposed. Three wind-associated environmental models are integrated into this hybrid model. The Texel-Marsen-Arsole spectral model is adopted to generate a three-dimensional shallow-water surface, which affects the Doppler shifts of large-scale paths. Small-scale micropaths are statistically analyzed and modeled according to the measured channels. The Hall-Novarini model is adopted to simulate the refraction and attenuation caused by wind-generated bubbles. An existing wind-generated noise model is applied to calculate the noise spectrum. The proposed model has been validated by the at-sea measurements collected in the Gulf of Mexico in 2016 and 2017. This model can be used to further analyze the channels at different carrier frequencies, bandwidths, and wind speeds for certain transmission conditions.