Ocean space surveillance system - OSS

OSS is a real-time supervising concept for marine operations and management based on data assimilation and integrated measurements and models. OSS is composed of an underwater sensor network, communication links to computers running ocean models, computer ocean models and a data assimilation tool which adapts the model to measurement data from the sensor network. The paper describes the overall system and how the sensor measurements are updating the model. The inclusion of electromagnetic communication in the sensor network is discussed, illustrating the link sea surface range and performance in terms of signal level variations. Results from real measurements at the coast of Norway show the improved predictions of sea current behaviour. Besides from improving the quality of predictions, modelling is used for optimum deployment of the network nodes, representing a major economical benefit of the OSS approach compared to a more ad hoc deployment of the nodes.