Atmospheric Aerosol Model and Data Collection Over the Marine Boundary Layer for Imaging/Radiofrequency (RF) and Laser Beam Propagation

This overall research program is oriented towards a deeper experimental and theoretical understanding of meteorological properties of the marine wave boundary layer (MWBL) and laser light propagation in the marine environment. The main objective is to develop a periscope imaging, electronic warfare, and High Energy Laser (HEL) beam propagation model over the marine aerosol boundary layer for the integration of propagation modeling software into a system that will investigate absorption and scattering properties of marine aerosols, interplay between aerosols and turbulence, and impact on imaging and electronic warfare (EW).  To advance this goal requires developing an experimental data base derived from measurements using specialized lasers, instruments, and sensors over electromagnetic propagation conditions most characteristic of the marine layer. This information will be analyzed and integrated to build up state-of-the-art computational models capable of handling the dynamic character of the marine aerosol boundary layer within 1 – 60 ft of the ocean surface.  Ultimately, integrating such a robust model into a laser sensor instrument will become a valuable and deployable predictive tool to enable and support Navy ships and submarines to meet the challenges of diverse global marine environments that impact the performance of the Navy’s current and planned operational systems.