This paper contains an analysis for determining the time of arrival and Doppler‐frequency characteristics of a pulse transmitted to a target by reflection from a not‐too‐rough surface such as the sea bottom and gives numerical values for a typical sonar application. The analysis may be important in sonar signal processing associated with one‐way or round‐trip transmission and in the interpretation of data from marine geophysical surveys; it may, in addition, have application to propagation of electromechanical waves by ionospheric refraction.