Speed of Sound in Water

Previously, we showed an emperical equation for calculating the speed of sound through seawater taking into account the water temperature, salinity, and pressure. However, speed does not indicate direction whereas velocity does. Now we will discuss the movement and refraction of the sound waves in water. A wave changes is bent as it travels through different mediums. The speed of the compression of a wave is determined by the compressiblity and desnity of the medium that it travels through.

The following image shows the refracton in sound waves. This image shows why sound velocity is an imporant factor to correct for.

  • Refraction from different sound velocities. Image from R2Sonic:"Basic Ascoustic Theory"