Implications of shiptracks on ship surveillance

Shiptracks are observed in Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellite images during the Monterey Area Shiptrack Experiment (MAST) of June 1994. Over 200 shiptracks are correlated with the responsible ships by comparing the images with shipping data from the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) and the Joint Maritime Information Element (JMIE) Support System (JSS). Relative wind and ship to shiptrack separation data are calculated and analyzed for each correlation. A linear relationship between separation distance and relative wind speed is identified for diesel-powered ships. Separation time is used as a measure of how quickly mixing occurs within the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL). Determination of the location of a ship in an image is made possible with the composite separation data. Operational applications are identified first through use of a survey of key JSS users and second through submission of the correlated dataset to the JSS for entry as additional shipping data. An overview of global applicability and U.S. Naval interests in using shiptracks for ship surveillance confirms the importance of continued study of the shiptrack phenomenon.