NSF Navigating the New Arctic – Under-Ice Exploration (ALASKA)

Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) programme, this project was led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and focused on advancing technologies for persistent, long-range autonomous observations beneath Arctic sea ice.

Our technology demonstrations were focused on operations with a small, long-range Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and a highly customized Autonomous Underwater Glider (AUG). These vehicles have been designed with specialized hardware and software for under ice survey and data collection, which will enable new ways to understand ice dynamics and provide valuable insight about the Earth’s changing climate.

PLOATECH’s team contributed expertise in underwater technology and field operations, building on direct involvement in the project and its Arctic field activities in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.