Characterizing magnetic noise of AUV for use in towed magnetometer study of internal waves

As part of a project to study internal waves, FAU plans to utilize an AUV to tow a magnetometer to study electromagnetic signatures from internal waves. This research is focused on the electromagnetic noise issues related to using an AUV to tow the magnetic sensor package. There are active sources of electromagnetic noise caused by an AUV that are present in addition to those induced by the Earth's magnetic field and permanent magnets. To characterize the magnetic noise associated with the AUV magnetometer tow system, the various active source elements were identified, the orientation sensitivity of the sensors being used was determined, and the magnetic anomaly of a similar AUV which may be eventually be used in a magnetic sensing arrangement was measured. The results are used to show the proposed sensing arrangement will likely not achieve the necessary sensitivity to measure subtle internal wave signals.