UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 13, Page 10
November 30, 1995
Marine prof. focuses his attention on ocean 'noise'

     Detecting the presence of foreign submarines during the Cold War
stimulated the development of ocean acoustics. Now the focus of
research in the field is oriented more toward to learning about the
ocean, bay and shore environments, according to Mohsen Badiey,
assistant professor of applied ocean science in the Graduate College
of Marine Studies.
     Ocean acoustics can provide a means of studying the dynamics of
the ocean through sound waves recorded by sensors placed in the water.
The collected data is then transferred to computers for analysis.
     Sound waves or "noise" indicate different kinds of activities,
such as storms, waves, marine life, ships or seismic events, including
sea quakes and landslides on the ocean floor. Even the sound of whales
communicating with each other can be used to study the ocean
environment, Badiey said.
     Badiey works with colleagues in engineering at UD, as well as
other universities and research institutions, such as Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the
Naval Research Laboratory on research projects involving ocean
acoustics.
     Currently, his focus of study is an offshore area near Atlantic
City on the New Jersey continental shelf where geological studies have
already been carried out. In shallow waters such as these, the sound
waves interact with the seafloor, and can be used to obtain
information about the composition of the seabed, as well as the ocean
itself.
     The information derived from these studies can be combined with
data from remote sensing by satellite and other oceanographic data
gathered on ships, such as temperature profiles of the water, to give
a more complete view of what is occurring in these environments.
     By comparing the acoustical data with the known geological data,
models can be developed for remote sensing of the ocean environment.
These studies will enable the acoustical remote sensing technology to
be applied to other shallow water regions. Future plans involve
monitoring the mouth of Delaware Bay using a combination of these
technologies.
     According to Badiey, students are the heart of the program. In
the summer, Badiey takes a select group of University students from
the college and from other disciplines, such as engineering, on the
University's RV Cape Henelopen. Acoustical data, information about the
seafloor and oceanographic data are gathered and analyzed by computers
on board the ship.
     "Working with nature is hard because nature does not give away
her secrets for free. But it is also very rewarding when you learn
this way. It is like solving a puzzle. We all work hard on board, but
we also have the time of our lives in spite of occasional rough seas.
This hands-on experience frequently attracts students to pursue
careers in marine science and there are many opportunities in the
field," Badiey said.
     With bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering from Southern
Illinois University, Badiey became interested in marine science and
pursued graduate studies at the University of Miami, where he received
his doctorate in applied marine physics and ocean engineering from the
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
     His career has taken him to many parts of  the world, including a
NATO project in Italy, carrying out shallow water acoustical research,
and to Japan to study geotechnical engineering, as well as projects in
the United States.
     Badiey, who came to the University in 1990, established a new
laboratory in ocean acoustics study. He also served as program
director of the Ocean Acoustics Program in the Office of Naval
Research from 1992-94 while on leave, where he received a special act
award.
     Although he has enjoyed working elsewhere in the field, Badiey
said education and academic research are his main priorities.
                                                   -Sue Swyers Moncure