Current and Future Underwater Magnetic Sensing

A summary review is provided of underwater magnetic sensing with regard to present practice, new developments, and predicted future practice. Numerous applications of underwater magnetic sensing currently exist for research, commercial, and military interests. Thus, present applications range all the way from basic study of geologic faults, through exploration for offshore oil, to anti-submarine warfare. Important developments have occurred in recent years primarily with respect to more sensitive sensors, more sophisticated signal processing, improved modelling of target signatures, and a more intensive systems-oriented approach to design. These developments will not only improve the performance of present applications but are expected to yield new applications in the near future such as target tracking, classification, and homing systems; navigation of robot vehicles by fixes on prerecorded geologic magnetic anomalies; and underwater communications by low frequency magnetic signals. The key to this dynamic future lies in reducing ambient magnetic noise to acceptable levels by signal processing and better systems design.