Theoretical, Numerical and Observational Studies of Coastal Ocean Electrodynamics

We seek to understand and utilize environmental and deliberately produced electromagnetic (EM) signals in the coastal ocean. Our studies are undertaken to provide a means for communicating with and guiding autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and other autonomous sensor systems, such as moored instruments. We include various EM influences in our models such as environmental noise, seabed electrical conductivity, variable bottom depth and coastline, and deliberate EM signals. The ultimate goal is to understand these factors well enough to reliably estimate signal-to-noise ratios in planning coastal EM operations and to improve basic understanding of EM propagation and environmental noise in the coastal waters.