Navy Atmospheric Measurements for EM Propagation Modeling

The ultimate goal of this project has been to improve characterizations of the battlespace environment for operational U.S. Navy electromagnetic (EM) system performance prediction tools. New and past marine surface layer measurements have been used to test, validate and improve models for characterizing near-surface refractivity and the evaporation duct. The analyses performed during this project have led to demonstrated improvements in the performance of the NPS-developed Navy Atmospheric Vertical Surface Layer Model (NAVSLaM), which characterizes the evaporation duct for EM system prediction models, through the use of new dimensionless profile functions for both unstable and stable conditions. The improved performance was validated by systematic comparisons between NAVLSaM-modeled and measured propagation data (Frederickson 2017a and 2017b). The NPS Vertical Refractivity Profile Blending Algorithm (VRPBA) has also been improved as part of this project (Cherrett et al. 2016 and Frederickson et al. 2016) with capabilities to handle new environmental situations. Lastly, in collaboration with Jon Pozderac of the Ohio State University, the NAVSLaM model has been used to validate and improve the OSU X- band evaporation duct height estimation algorithm (Pozderac et al. 2017). In the month remaining before this project is completed, further analyses and validations will be performed with newly available experimental data from the Coupled Air Sea Processes and EM-ducting Research (CASPER) project. The modeling improvements resulting from this project will lead to more accurate EM system (radar, electronic attack, surveillance, communications, etc.) performance predictions for U.S. Navy warfighters.Naval Research ProgramPrepared for Topic Sponsor: Office of Naval Research, Research POC Name: Daniel EleuterioNPS-N16-N51