Numerical solution of the acoustic wave equation using Chebyshev polynomials with application to global acoustics

A new spectral method employing Chebyshev polynomials as basis functions to solve the underwater acoustic wave equation for the normal modes is developed. The Chebyshev polynomials have the advantage of being a particularly efficient and accurate representation of the normal modes (especially those of lower order). The sensitivity of an ocean acoustic thermometer to seasonal changes is then investigated. An estimate of travel time fluctuations due to seasonal variability in the ocean sound speed field is computed using three data sets for some proposed ATOC paths