EOPACE (electro-optical propagation assessment in coastal environments): overview and initial accomplishments

EOPACE is a five year multi-national effort to improve performance assessment for electrooptical systems operating in coastal environments. Existing propagation codes such as LOWTRAN/MODTRAN incorporate models that were developed for open ocean conditions and work quite well for this scenario. However, there are processes that are unique to near coastal regions which are not adequately accounted for in LOWTRAN/MODTRAN. Coastal environments may differ significantly from open ocean conditions, and need to be fully characterized. The objectives of EOPACE are threefold: (1) to investigate coastal aerosols by studying surfproduction, coastal air mass characterization, and near ocean surface transmission characteristics; (2) to develop mesoscale and data assimilation models; and (3) to evaluate EO systems performance by studying targets and backgrounds, polarization techniques, performance of forward looking infrared (FUR) and infrared search and track (IRST) systems, and tactical decision aids. Six EOPACE Intensive Operational Periods (TOPs) have been conducted during 1996 and 1 997. Two more TOPs are planned along with one Extended Operational Period (EOP). In situ and remote sensing techniques have been used to infer the impact of surf-generated aerosols, air mass parameterization required for propagation codes, near ocean surface infrared transmission properties, and IRST/FLIR systems performance in coastal environments. Initial results concern coastal aerosols. This paper gives an overview of the EOPACE effort and discusses the initial observations relative to: (1) the impact of surf generated aerosols on visual and JR extinction in a coastal environment, (2) establishing the variability of aerosol concentrations and composition for coastal air masses for the development of a Coastal Aerosol Model (CAM), and (3) quantifying JR propagation characteristics for two wavebands (3- 5 and 8-12 microns) for near ocean transmission.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.