Which factor affects sound velocity the most to 1,000 feet?

The factor that most significantly affects sound velocity up to 1,000 feet is temperature. When considering the properties of seawater, temperature has a greater influence than pressure, salinity, or density in this context.

As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the water molecules increases, leading to faster sound propagation. This relationship is well-established in oceanographic studies and is one of the primary reasons why sound travels faster in warmer water than in colder water. The effect of temperature on sound velocity is typically understood to be more pronounced than that of pressure and salinity in the upper layers of the ocean.

While pressure and salinity certainly play roles in determining sound speed, their impacts are less significant than the temperature factor, particularly within the first 1,000 feet of water where temperature variations can be quite pronounced due to sunlight warming the surface layers. Understanding this relationship is critical for navigation, underwater acoustics, and other marine applications.