Our Contribution
While supporting active countermeasures like next-generation jammers, APL is also helping the Navy better understand how naturally occurring electromagnetic phenomena affect sensor performance. Laboratory experts conducted a case analysis under the Maritime Surveillance Systems Program to examine how magnetic anomalies impact undersea sonar performance—particularly in high-latitude environments where the Earth’s magnetic field is more intense. Using actual operational data, the team identified unanticipated magnetic variance that affected sonar system behavior, highlighting the need for more accurate modeling of the undersea magnetic environment. The study found that both the World Magnetic Model and the Earth Magnetic Anomaly Grid lose precision below sea level, especially at depth. By analyzing and mapping these anomalies in relation to sensor signal processing, the team helped inform improvements in sonar system performance and undersea navigation—reinforcing electromagnetic awareness as a critical element of undersea warfare.
