Abstract
This chapter discusses the sounds emitted by gas bubbles when they are
generated underwater. Here we define bubbles to be volumes of gas,
surrounded by liquid (here, taken to be water), having surface tension
forces (the so-called Laplace pressure) generated by a single wall, and
so are distinguished from the soap bubbles familiar in children’s games,
where the volume of gas is surrounded by two gas/liquid boundaries1. In
comparison with other acoustic sources, such as marine mammals, ships
and tectonic events, a single bubble may seem insignificant. Indeed,
without ideal conditions it can be difficult to observe the sound of a
single bubble from a distance of more than a few tens of centimetres.
However, natural processes rarely produce single bubbles, and in fact
can generate them in their millions at which point the sound generation
is significant. With the formation of bubbles as a result of gas seeps,
rainfall and breaking waves being a major component of ambient noise in
the marine environment and can even alter the propagation of sound waves
from other sources. This chapter focuses on the passive emissions of
bubbles as they are formed, released, or injected into water, and here
the volume pulsations are linear. In this chapter we will discuss the
mechanics behind an individual bubble’s acoustic signature, in
particular the Minnaert equation and other relevant properties, before
discussing the formation of bubbles from subsurface gas migration,
rainfall and wave action, characterizing the acoustic nature of each
process. The primary focus will be on the sound resulting from bubble
generation from each of these sources. A number of different units are
used to define each acoustic source, while this may appear confusing and
make direct comparison difficult, this is done to be consistent with the
literature. The topics covered here are broad, so the approach taken is
to summarise the key principles and state of the field, while providing
substantial linkage to the literature.