Abstract
When evaluating acoustic methods for measuring physical parameters in the ocean, economical and technical considerations are paramount. As an indirect method of estimating ocean dynamics, acoustic tomography has advantages over more conventional approaches. It allows the reconstruction of temperature and flow fields from the acoustic impulse time-of-flight measured along the rays propagating from the source to the receiver. However, many problems require complicated and expensive systems. To use the acoustic tomography method to best effect, developing hardware systems with sources and receivers mounted permanently on the sea bottom is crucial. Akulichev et al. presented some experimental results from shallow zones of the World Ocean that served as a motive for developing a multifunction system with acoustic hardware and software. Here we present technical features and the sea test results of the system.