sound speed profile

A sound speed profile describes how the speed of sound varies at different depths in a medium, such as seawater. In the ocean, factors like temperature, salinity, and pressure influence this variation. Typically, sound travels fastest at certain depths where conditions optimize its speed, and slower when factors hinder it. Understanding this profile is important for activities like underwater communication, navigation, and sonar. It helps predict how sound waves will bend, reflect, or travel efficiently through different layers, improving our ability to explore and operate beneath the surface with accuracy.