Physical Modeling and Measurement of Fish Acoustic Backscatter

Abstract

Physical acoustic model of fish is used to explain the variability in backscatter and target size. The research has the aim to apply the theoretical physics-based acoustic scattering models of single animal and laboratory measurements of backscattering by individual fish. The scattering process was modeled using the distorted-wave Born approximation. Results showed that the acoustic backscatter strongly depended on the fish orientation. Predicted scattering over the measured distribution of orientations resulted in predictions of target strength consistent with measurements of target strength of fish.