What term describes the loss of sound intensity due to absorption and scattering?

The term that describes the loss of sound intensity due to absorption and scattering is attenuation. This concept is critical in understanding how sound propagates through various media, including water, where both processes play significant roles.

Absorption refers to the conversion of sound energy into other forms of energy, typically heat, as it travels through a medium, leading to a decrease in intensity. Scattering occurs when sound waves encounter particles or irregularities in the medium, causing them to deviate from their original path and distributing their energy over a larger area.

Together, these phenomena result in a reduction of sound intensity, which is collectively termed attenuation. This term is often used in acoustic studies and applications, such as sonar and underwater communications, to quantify how sound energy diminishes as it travels through different aquatic environments.

In contrast, the other terms do not accurately describe the process of losing sound intensity in the same way. Dissipation generally pertains to the loss of energy in a system, but does not specifically address sound intensity. Suppression refers to the act of stopping or inhibiting something and does not apply to sound intensity per se. Refraction involves the bending of sound waves as they pass through different media, which can affect direction but not directly the intensity loss due