Estimations of atmospheric conditions for input to the radar performance surface

Abstract

This study addresses the support of non-acoustic ASW operations by timely atmospheric and ocean surface descriptions on features that impact radar and electrooptical sensor systems. The first part of this study is an analysis of meteorology and oceanography (METOC) data collected off Wallops Island, VA. The second part is a description of data and procedures applied in a "Proof of Concept" for a Radar Performance Surface developed and executed at NPS for the Pacific Fleet exercise Valiant Shield 2007 for periscope detection. In both field experiments NPS employed METOC instruments and personnel in theater to collect in situ "truth" data for the ocean and atmosphere. The sensitivities of the parameters that serve as the input to the performance surface are evaluated. Surface parameters as predicted by the Navy's Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS®) are compared to in-situ data to assess the sensitivities of air-sea temperature differences and relative humidity errors on predictions of ducting, super and sub-refractive conditions. Atmospheric measurement techniques, use of climatology and numerical modeling as the input to the Radar Performance Surface are addressed. This study evaluates the degree of which mesoscale models can accurately predict the true predicted propagation conditions based on comparisons with in situ data. A statistical summary shows COAMPS® data has sufficient skill when compared to in situ data.