On the Reciprocity of Underwater Turbulent Channels

Abstract

Through a series of experiments incorporating two counter-propagating communication channels, we investigate the reciprocity nature of underwater turbulence. Bit error rate measurement and statistical data analysis reveal a high reciprocal nature of turbulence induced by the presence of bubbles, temperature, and salinity. We further demonstrate the effect of distortions at the beam level that could potentially be used for underwater communication system design considerations.

Keywords

• Underwater wireless optical communication
• underwater propagation
• oceanic turbulence
• channel reciprocity.