The feasibility of a multipurpose acoustic network in Baffin Bay

Abstract

Operating autonomous underwater vehicles at high latitudes is a challenge because ice cover prevents the use of GPS or data communications. As a result, our scientific observations are biased towards late spring, summer, and early autumn when ships can navigate and autonomous platforms can safely surface. To address this problem, we studied the feasibility of a basin-scale multipurpose acoustic network called the “Baffin Bay Acoustic Navigation and Communication System” (BBANC). BBANC would deploy broadband low frequency sources and receivers, offering one-way communication, acoustic positioning, and acoustic thermometry services. Passive acoustic listening elements would support the study of marine mammal communication and ambient noise from ships, ocean-based resource exploitation, and ice dynamics, as well as gate acoustic source operation in the presence of marine mammals. We describe the challenges and design parameters for such a system, as well as define additional acoustic and remote sensing measurements required to complete a system design. Drawing from a large database of Baffin Bay hydrography, we present simulations of under-ice sound speed conditions, ice properties derived from satellite remote sensing and upward looking sonar data, and modelled acoustic propagation paths in an ice-covered Baffin Bay. We also assess the feasibility of non-coherent and coherent communication.

Polar Ocean Observations: A Critical Gap in the Observing System and Its Effect on Environmental Predictions From Hours to a Season

“…Acoustic positioning systems have been deployed for under-ice navigation of Argo floats in the Weddell Sea (Klatt et al, 2007). Challenges for designing basin-scale acoustic systems include modeling the time-varying nature of the Arctic sound channel, for which measurements of annual variations of under-ice sound profiles and ice-bottom roughness are scarce (Rehm et al, 2018). The role of multipurpose acoustics networks as key components of polar observing systems is explored further in a complementary article (Howe et al, 2019).…”