A simulation of temperature influence on echolocation click beams of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis)

A finite element method was used to investigate the temperature influence on sound beams of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. The numerical models of a dolphin, which originated from previous computed tomography (CT) scanning and physical measurement results, were used to investigate sound beam patterns of the dolphin in temperatures from 21 degrees C to 39 degrees C, in increments of 2 degrees C. The -3dB beam widths across the temperatures ranged from 9.3 degrees to 12.6 degrees, and main beam angle ranged from 4.7 degrees to 7.2 degrees for these temperatures. The subsequent simulation suggested that the dolphin's sound beam patterns, side lobes in particular, were influenced by temperature. (C) 2017 Acoustical Society of America