Last march, the U.S. Navy submarine, USS Connecticut broke through three feet of ice in the Arctic 200 miles north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. This area is where the Applied Physics Lab (APL) from the University of Washington for the U.S. Navy, conducts underwater communications and sonar experiments. Since the ice is jagged on its undersides, it is hard to locate subs due to it distorting the sonar tracking. Because of this, APL, every spring sends researchers out in the – 30 degree weather to test the Deep Siren along with other devices. The Deep Siren sends acoustics and satellite messages through over 100 miles worth of water. These experiments that usually take a week help also by increasing our navy’s visibility in the arctic area. APL field engineer, Keith Magness explains that The Arctic is governed by international agreements. He says, “now that the ice is retreating, it’s getting a lot more interesting.” “Countries are trying to expand their coastline to claim resource, and it is one way our Navy maintains its presence.”  

Information obtained at www.discovermagazine.com and pictures obtained at www.discovermagazine.com and www.wikimedia.org