Excess statistics with applications to turbulence in marine environments

etc15 Tracking Number 277

Studies of excess statistics are standard in signal analysis, addressing basic questions like average frequencies of level crossings in a random signal, and average time durations between an up- and a down-crossing. The results can be applied to estimating the noise experienced by aquatic microorganisms in a turbulent environment. This problem has particular interest in relations to predators and prey that rely solely on signals transmitted through the surrounding turbulent flow. It is possible to give estimates for how often a predator can mistake turbulent induced noise for a signal from prey in given turbulence conditions. Such mistakes can be observed as unmotivated attacks. Similarly, prey can mistake noise for presence of a predator, giving rise to seemingly unmotivated observable escape responses.