The speed of sound in the water is affected by temperature, pressure, and salinity. When sound waves travel through water that has different temperatures, pressures, or salinities, they can be bent or refracted. This can cause sound waves to travel in unexpected directions and can mask an undersea target.

In the ocean, sound waves can also be bent by the presence of marine life, such as fish, squid, and whales. These can also disrupt the sound waves to make it difficult to accurately detect and locate an object.