Electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation for the development of an underwater Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)

Environmental concerns in aquatic environments have increased and require new and cost-effective real-time monitoring systems. Furthermore the Water Framework Directive (WFD) across the European Union (EU) and the growing international emphasis on the management of water quality and its sustainability are giving rise to a market for intelligent underwater monitoring systems. The aim of this paper is to study the feasibility of using electromagnetic (EM) waves in an underwater communication system and to develop a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) using cheap commodity motes in the unlicensed (ISM) frequency bands for applications including environmental monitoring.