Summary1. Sound waves in water have both a pressure and a particle-motion component, yet few studies of underwater acoustic ecology have measured the particle-motion component of sound. While mammal hearing is based on detection of sound pressure, fish and invertebrates (i.e. most aquatic animals) primarily sense sound using particle motion. Particle motion can be calculated indirectly from sound pressure measurements under certain conditions, but these conditions are rarely met in the shelf-sea and shallow-water habitats that most aquatic organisms inhabit. Direct measurements of particle motion have been hampered by the availability of instrumentation and a lack of guidance on data analysis methods. 2. Here, we provide an introduction to the topic of underwater particle motion, including the physics and physiology of particle-motion reception. We include a simple computer program for users to determine whether they are working in conditions where measurement of particle motion may be relevant. We discuss instruments that can be used to measure particle motion and the types of analysis appropriate for data collected. A supplemental tutorial and template computer code in MATLAB will allow users to analyse impulsive, continuous and fluctuating sounds from both pressure and particle-motion recordings. 3. A growing body of research is investigating the role of sound in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, and the ways in which sound influences animal behaviour, physiology and development. This work has particular urgency for policymakers and environmental managers, who have a responsibility to assess and mitigate the risks posed by rising levels of anthropogenic noise in aquatic ecosystems. As this paper makes clear, because many aquatic animals senses sound using particle motion, this component of the sound field must be addressed if acoustic habitats are to be managed effectively.

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A method is presented for generating a beam with a beam shape that is independent of distance and frequency over large axial and frequency ranges. The half-width of the beam can be less than a wavelength at the low end of the frequency range and can hold this narrow waist for hundreds of wavelengths, giving a large depth of field. The phase fronts of this beam are planar and perpendicular to the beam axis over the depth of field. By virtue of the flat phase fronts and the frequency independence of the beam, a pulsed beam with flat pulse fronts and an unchanging time response can be created. This beam is shown to share some of the properties of an axicon. A numerical simulation is done to demonstrate the feasibility of generating such a beam with an annular array.

An integral expression is derived for the normalization of ultrasonic scattering data to obtain an average differential scattering cross section per unit volume for tissue which is modeled as a random, fluidlike medium. The expression assumes narrowband signals and involves the incident beam, receiver beam pattern, and time gates. The beams and gates combine to form a window which limits the scattering volume. The derivation of the expression requires that the dimensions of the window be large compared to the correlation length of the scattering medium. Numerical values of the normalizing integral are given for cylindrical and beamlimited scattering volumes as a function of incident frequency and scattering angle under the assumptions of Gaussian beams and rectangular time gates. A set of curves is presented to relate the percent difference between the result for backscatter from a cylindrical scattering volume and from a beamlimited scattering volume which does not include the truncation effect of the cylinder boundary. Although similar in form to normalizations used by others, the integral in this paper is obtained from a derivation which treats physical parameters rigorously and provides a precise statement of conditions which are sufficient to obtain system-independent scattering data.