The Enhanced Navy Simulation of the Extended MBL Environment (ENSEMBLE) Toolkit

The recent emergence of many new ocean-transiting military and domestic security threats has led to a growing need within the Department of Defense in general and within the Department of the Navy in particular for improved methods for estimating the electromagnetic vulnerability to visual/electro-optical/infrared/radar systems. Accurate characterization of the marine boundary layer (MBL) in the vicinity of naval ships and surfaced submarines is critical for input into the electromagnetic propagation tools that predict system performance and vulnerability. An Enhanced Navy Simulation of the Extended MBL Environment (ENSEMBLE) toolkit is being developed to provide a MBL volumetric characterization that extends 10 km horizontally. ENSEMBLE is being built within the framework of the Air Force Institute of Technology’s validated, robust and GUI driven Laser Environmental Effects Definition and Reference atmospheric characterization package. Sea surface temperature and point source weather measurements within the surface boundary layer anchor vertical profiles. Mesoscale forecast data define horizontal variability. Existing and proposed measurement data will be combined with air-sea interface physics, chemistry and turbulence theory to statistically model the dynamically varying near ocean surface wave boundary layer. Direct links to DON standard propagation models will facilitate seamless and rapid data analysis.