Channel as seen by an Argo float: Study from Arabian Sea

The salinity-temperature profile data from one of the Argos float (ID: 2901374) in the Arabian Sea has been analyzed from June 2010 to March 2012 in this study. A major part of this study is to investigate the variable characteristics of underwater acoustic communication channel for long periods in the area where this float has gathered the data. We have many measured salinity, temperature, and depth profiles along the trajectory of the float. From this measured data, sound speed profiles at different locations, months, and seasons can be calculated using sound speed equations. The latitude span starts from 19.7° and goes to 24.3° whereas longitude span starts from 58.7° to goes to 64.8° approximately. A ray theory based modeling tool has been used to predict the parameters like multipath extent and delay spread which are useful for channel characterization of the acoustic wireless communication. In this way, use of actual and recent ocean data can be used in performance prediction of acoustic communication system.