Mary P. Mosier
Naval Facility, Whidbey Island, Bldg. 2700, Oak Harbor, WA 98278-9400
The United States Navy's oceanographic system was established in 1954 with the commissioning of Naval Facility Ramey. Established as the United States' first line of defense against submarines, the oceanographic systems has grown into the integrated underseas surveillance system (IUSS). IUSS is comprised of two parts. The fixed system is called the sound surveillance system or SOSUS and the mobile system is called surveillance towed array sensor system or SURTASS. Since the end of the cold war and the declassification of its antisubmarine warfare mission, IUSS has made acoustic data available to other government agencies and the scientific community on a case-by-case basis. Present and potential research areas using IUSS acoustic data include large marine mammals, acoustic telemetry, remote ocean observation, fisheries enforcement, and seismic/volcanic monitoring. Limitations to the availability of this data is classification of sensor locations and signal processing technology, compatible equipment, financial impact on the United States Navy and impact on primary mission at the facility. This presentation will provide you with the key to working with IUSS facilities.