Multipurpose acoustic networks in the Arctic

To improve the Arctic Ocean observing capability, OceanObs19 recommends “to pilot a sustained multipurpose acoustic network for positioning, tomography, passive acoustics, and communication in an integrated Arctic Observing System, with eventual transition to global coverage.” A multipurpose acoustic network will widen the wealth of observations of ocean and sea ice variables in the central Arctic. Several regional multipurpose acoustic experiments have been carried out in the Arctic, helping create the capability and experience to go basin wide. The CAATEX (Coordinated Arctic Acoustic Thermometry Experiment) is a first step towards a basin wide multipurpose acoustic system. CAATEX was a one-year limited experiment, but the experiences from the experiment are a forerunner for a sustained Pan Arctic Acoustic Observation Network. This presentation will focus on the planning of and first results from CAATEX and the role of acoustic networks in the future Arctic Ocean Observing System. [CAATEX is supported by Office of Naval Research through Grant No. N00014-18-1-2698 and the Research Council of Norway under Grant No. 280531.]