Acoustic intelligence is intelligence gathered through the analysis of underwater sounds, including those from submarines and passing vessels. It is part of a larger family of intelligence types known as MASINT, which involves analyzing all types of data. Acoustic intelligence experts can distinguish between natural and human-generated sounds and study how sounds move in the ocean. This type of intelligence is used in military applications and is also being used to monitor ocean health.
Acoustic intelligence, known as ACINT in military jargon, is intelligence gathered through the analysis of auditory phenomena. The term is generally used specifically in reference to underwater intelligence gleaned from submarines, sensors, and passing vessels. ACINT has been used in military applications since the 1960s and many nations have extremely well developed acoustic intelligence programs.
This type of intelligence is part of a larger family of intelligence types known as Measurement and Signals Intelligence (MASINT). MASINT involves analyzing all types of data to gather insights into a wide variety of situations and environments. In addition to acoustic intelligence, MASINT includes radar, infrared, laser, spectroscopic, and nuclear intelligence, among many others. People working in this field may work in the field or in the laboratory, with laboratory workers using advanced scientific techniques to extract useful information from the data they collect.
Thanks to the common desire to be ahead of other countries, many militaries have at their disposal highly advanced equipment for use in ACINT research and development. Researchers in this field may also work on developing new techniques and equipment to ensure they stay ahead of the pack.
This form of intelligence involves listening to the sea and categorizing the sounds you hear. Acoustic intelligence experts can distinguish between natural sounds, such as the movement of the ocean floor and passing animals, and human-generated sounds such as boats, submarines, and so on. Acoustic intelligence also involves studying how sounds move in the ocean, ranging from radar blips to the moans of ship hulls.
The accumulated body of knowledge in this field allows technicians to distinguish between different types of sounds when working on board ships, filtering out the acoustic characteristics of things that are considered non-threatening. Modern equipment can even do this filtering automatically, allowing technicians to focus on more ambiguous noises that might be of concern. Acoustic intelligence is also being used to monitor ocean health, with researchers listening for sounds that define a region of the ocean and reporting changes that suggest problems.
Oceans are noisy places. The passing creatures create cavitation waves that leave a distinctive signature, and can also make various sounds and generate noise as they eat, scrape along the ocean floor, and engage in various other activities. The oceans also generate noises of geological origin, such as the rumble of underwater volcanoes. Learning to distinguish these noises is important, as is learning to identify noises that pose a threat, such as the whispering engines of advanced submarines or the sounds of incoming torpedoes.
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