METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HIGH-FREQUENCY PASSIVE SONAR PERFORMANCE PREDICTION

A system and method for predicting passive, high-frequency sonar array performance at any underwater location, implemented as a software package running on a computer. An operator selects an arbitrary geographical location, specifies a sonar array and defines a target. The necessary bathymetry, and associated oceanographic, environmental and meteorological data are automatically acquired or generated, along with appropriate models for ocean surface and bottom reflectivity, and vertical noise directionality. A Comprehensive Acoustic System Simulation (CASS) software module performs appropriate ray tracing, which is used to produce Cross-Spectral Density (CSD) matrices for the target and the anisotropic ambient noise. These are used to generate graphic and numeric representations of the array's performance at the selected location. A time of year may also be specified and the appropriate anisotropic noise field for conditions expected at that location at that time of year will be generated. Shipping realizations may be incorporated.