A study on the multi-frequency acoustic target strength of krill using a stochastic distorted-wave born approximation (SDWBA) model

Abstract

We examined the dB difference in target strength at multiple frequencies (ΔTS) for the identification of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and ice krill (Euphausia crystallorophias) using a stochastic distorted-wave Born approximation model. Our investigation focused on ΔTS patterns at multiple frequencies in relation to size, along with key acoustic properties influencing TS, including density and sound speed contrast, fatness, and orientation. The findings revealed that the orientation and fatness significantly affect the ΔTS patterns. The results provide insight into the importance of the multi-frequency technique for estimating krill biomass and their ecological interactions with environmental features in the Southern Ocean.