<p>plot the SPL as function of log10(distance) and extrapolate linealy to the background SPL.</p>
<p>explanation: pressure decreases with 1/distance^2. a log-log plot will then generate a linear relation. SPL is already logarithmic, so you only need to use log10(distance). In absence of absorption and other effects (wind in air, reflections) the slope the function will be -2. Any small deviation may be due to absorption, larger deviations are most likely due to reflections.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-05T02:01:16.283Z
Yes, this is a good solution, but I would advise caution regarding the measurements made at 1 m distance. These recordings are likely to be in the near field for the low-mid frequency portion of the spectrum (for various definitions of low-mid depending on whether you'r measuring in water or air). Near field is sometimes defined as the region where inverse square-law is not appropriate. If I recall correctly the rule-of-thumb is that near-field is anything closer than 4 wavelengths, though I've also recall others saying 6 or 7 wavelengths.
Brian Miller
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-04T17:04:36.513Z
2023-10-04T17:04:36.513Z
WMXZ
<p>I did a sound degradation experiment in which I played model sounds from a speaker and the re-recorded at 4 distances (1, 35, 60 and 100m). I would like to estimate the distance in which sound intensity will go below background noise somehow extrapolating SPL. I have measures of signal-to-noise ratio and SPL for each sound at each distance. I have tried models using a single SPL value/distance but the result changes a lot depending on which distance is being used. So I am looking for a way to take into account all distances.</p>

<amplitude>
Infer active space distance based on SNR or SPL measured at 2 distances
# Infer active space distance based on SNR or SPL measured at 2 distances

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-10-04)

I did a sound degradation experiment in which I played model sounds from a speaker and the re-recorded at 4 distances (1, 35, 60 and 100m). I would like to estimate the distance in which sound intensity will go below background noise somehow extrapolating SPL. I have measures of signal-to-noise ratio and SPL for each sound at each distance. I have tried models using a single SPL value/distance but the result changes a lot depending on which distance is being used. So I am looking for a way to take into account all distances.

**Tags:** amplitude


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-10-04. Score: 2

plot the SPL as function of log10(distance) and extrapolate linealy to the background SPL.

explanation: pressure decreases with 1/distance^2. a log-log plot will then generate a linear relation. SPL is already logarithmic, so you only need to use log10(distance). In absence of absorption and other effects (wind in air, reflections) the slope the function will be -2. Any small deviation may be due to absorption, larger deviations are most likely due to reflections.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Yes, this is a good solution, but I would advise caution regarding the measurements made at 1 m distance. These recordings are likely to be in the near field for the low-mid frequency portion of the spectrum (for various definitions of low-mid depending on whether you'r measuring in water or air). Near field is sometimes defined as the region where inverse square-law is not appropriate. If I recall correctly the rule-of-thumb is that near-field is anything closer than 4 wavelengths, though I've also recall others saying 6 or 7 wavelengths.  

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