- In the icy waters of the Arctic, NATO scientists are studying sound waves to improve the tracking of Russian submarines as global warming alters underwater acoustics.
- Acoustic waves are the only reliable source of information for tracking submarines.
- Instruments will measure water temperature, salinity, and pressure, affecting sound speed in water.
Acoustic Waves
- Ocean acoustics is the study of sound and its behaviour in the sea.
- When underwater objects vibrate, they create sound-pressure waves that alternately compress and decompress the water molecules as the sound wave travels through the sea.
- Sound waves radiate in all directions away from the source like ripples on the surface of a pond.
- The compressions and decompressions associated with sound waves are detected as changes in pressure by the structures in our ears and most man-made sound receptors such as a hydrophone, or underwater microphone.
- The melting sea ice alters the Arctic’s soundscape, with increasing human presence and cracking ice.
- The data is crucial for developing sonars and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), identifying surface vessels by propeller sounds, and facilitating minesweeping.
- Strict rules protect the Arctic’s ecosystem. Work halts if animals are detected.
- The Russian navy, with significant capabilities and the powerful Northern Fleet, poses a threat in the Arctic, home to numerous submarines with nuclear warheads.
Dig Deeper: Read about the Arctic Council.
