N102-126 TITLE: Detection and Discrimination of Large-Scale Subsurface Generated Ocean Perturbations

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Ground/Sea Vehicles, Electronics, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-264 Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative radar detection and discrimination techniques for large-scale ocean perturbations.

DESCRIPTION: The Navy has made important progress in mapping and understanding subsurface-induced perturbations to the ocean's surface, and the aerosols immediately above the surface, and the way in which those perturbations manifest themselves. However, not all processes are understood. A strong interest exists in understanding the nature of large scale perturbations, their source physics, the effects at, and above the surface, and optimal means of detecting and characterizing the perturbations.

The focus of these innovative approaches will be on natural and man-made sources of large-scale subsurface influences, their manifestation at and above the surface, and optimal remote sensing and signal processing techniques. Emphasis will be placed on physics-based descriptors of all three processes: (1) subsurface signal generation, (2) propagation of resultant signatures at and above the surface, and (3) signature detection, recognition, characterization, and discrimination from ambient background using novel sensors.

Unique and innovative approaches to this problem are desired. The Navy envisions that new innovative signal processing approaches may evolve through this program.

PHASE I: Evaluate approaches for a physics-based modeling of various ambient and anthropogenic sources of large-scale subsurface perturbations, the energy transfer processes involved in propagation of those signatures to the surface and near-surface, and concepts for discrimination and characterization of those source signatures with respect to noise, clutter, and masking.

PHASE II: Fully develop the physics-based concept of an exploitable class of perturbations from source generation through surface and possible above-surface manifestations. Proof of principle analysis is desired using existing experimental data or newly acquired data. Initial detection and discrimination techniques should be developed.

PHASE III: Transition the capability to exploit this signature into the Fleet utilizing existing maritime radar sensor systems.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Potential dual use applications include ocean environmental assessments, physical oceanography, biological and chemical oceanography, ocean modeling and prediction, tactical environmental support, and marine meteorology.

REFERENCES:
1. Sammarco, P., Mei, C. C. & Trulsen, K. (1994) Nonlinear resonance of free surface waves in a current over a sinusoidal bottom - a numerical study. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 279, 377-405

2. Hwung, Hwung-Hweng, Ray-Yeng Yang & Shugan, I. V. (2009). Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 626 pp 1-20 doi: 10.1017/S0022112008004758, Published online by Cambridge University Press 01 May 2009

3. Cao, Y.(2007). Computations of Nonlinear Gravity Waves by a Desingularized Boundary Integral Method (Doctoral dissertation). Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

KEYWORDS: remote sensing; signal processing; hydrodynamics; natural ocean inhomogenities; ocean modeling and prediction; marine science; oceanography

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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