Sea Technology

AUG 2012

The industry's recognized authority for design, engineering and application of equipment and services in the global ocean community

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The NRL participated in the Navy- sponsored Applied Physics Lab Ice Sta- tion during the Navy's Ice Exercise (ICEX) in March 2011, which enabled testing of equipment and data collection tech- niques that were applied to the DIS- TANCE Project's initial field season in April 2012. During ICEX 2011, re- searchers from NRL and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers CRREL were posi- tioned on the ice along the same path as the aircraft taking measurements, and measured actual snow and ice thickness for comparison. Actual thickness was de- termined by drilling holes in the ice and using the Geonics Ltd. (Mississauga, Canada) EM31 terrain conductivity meter, an electromagnetic induction de- vice that was carried about 3 to 5 feet above the surface of the snow and ice for its signal to penetrate down to the water- ice interface. A submarine measured ice draft, al- lowing validation of the complete thick- ness measurement model. Flying the Twin Otter down the same 9-kilometer survey line where ice thickness measure- ments were made at the surface and the ice draft was measured by submarine al- lowed comparison and correlation of the field data, which was then compared with satellite data along ground paths coincident with the survey area. Conclusions Today, the Navy and Coast Guard have extremely limited capability in the Arctic and need to plan for greater presence there in the future. The challenge is for the U.S. and its partners to provide ade- quate maritime domain awareness, safety, security, navigation and environ- mental stewardship in this remote region. Altogether, this research will provide a better understanding of the satellite data and improve the algorithms and forecast models to predict ice thickness and more accurately describe the changing condi- tions in the Arctic. The study will help to better understand the mechanisms con- trolling sea ice cover, including the rela- tionship between the sea ice, ocean and atmosphere, and the changes to the ocean and their resulting implications. Edward Lundquist is a retired U.S. Navy cap- tain and a principal science writer for MCR Federal in Arlington, Virginia. He served on ac- tive duty as a surface warfare and public af- fairs officer, with his last assignment as a commanding officer of the Naval Media Cen- ter. He writes for naval, maritime, defense and science publications around the world. www.sea-technology.com AUGUST 2012 / st 19

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