What is additive noise?

Additive noise refers to random variations or disturbances added to a signal, which can obscure or degrade the original information. It is characterized by being independent of the signal and can arise from various sources, such as electronic interference or environmental factors. In signal processing, additive noise is often modeled as a stochastic process, typically represented by a Gaussian distribution. This type of noise is significant in fields like telecommunications, audio processing, and image analysis, as it affects the clarity and quality of the transmitted or recorded signals.