Nuclear Submarines and Oceanography in the Arctic

By Ted DeLaca and Jeffrey Gossett

(Click on the image to view a larger version of the cruise track)

The 1995 SCICEX cruise aboard the U.S. Navy's USS Cavalla covered 10,800 nautical miles in the Arctic Ocean Basin during the months of April and May documenting conditions during the annual period of maximum ice extent. The cruise completed a transect of the basin, a survey of the shallow Chukchi Borderland, and a survey of the Lomonosov Ridge (including the North Pole itself). The submarine surfaced through the ice five times (at locations indicated by blue boxes) to conduct water sampling to depths of 1000 m. The U.S. Arctic Research Commission played a pivotal role in negotiating this extremely successful collaboration between civilian research institutions and the U.S. Office of Naval Research, NSF, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Geological Survey. A Broad Agency Announcement soliciting proposals for the 1997 cruise is anticipated this spring. (Illustration by T. Boyd)

During April and May 1995, the United States Navy's attack submarine, the USS Cavalla, deployed to the Arctic Ocean for an unprecedented mission--to support unclassified oceanographic research conducted by and for researchers from academic institutions in the United States and Canada. USS Cavalla's deployment was the first of five annual Submarine Arctic Science Cruise (SCICEX) missions dedicated to providing a detailed view of the Arctic Ocean and the nature of its seasonal variations.

SCICEX-95 took place during the annual period of maximum arctic ice cover (March-May). The cruise covered 10,800 nautical miles within the Arctic Ocean basin (see Figure) over the course of 44 days in April and May 1995. Four civilian scientists, assisted by three from the Arctic Submarine Laboratory in San Diego, California collected data for 26 investigators from 12 institutions (Table 1).

The first data-evaluation and synthesis meeting was held in conjunction with the February 1996 American Association of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)/American Geophysical Union (AGU) Oceans meeting in San Diego. SCICEX-95 collected 4,725 water samples as well as continuous data on ice draft, bathymetry, gravity, and sea-water conductivity and temperature. Primary projects included:

• A geophysical survey of the Chukchi Borderland and a very detailed shallow near-shelf survey for biological and chemical information. Water sampling was conducted while underway and from three stations on the surface of the ice. From these and subsequent surface stations, researchers retrieved sea-water samples to depths of 800 m for detailed analysis and for comparison with the quality of underway sampling procedures. Ice conditions allowed placement of a meteorological buoy at the third surface station.
  
• A cross-basin transect from Pt. Barrow, Alaska to north of Franz Josef Land. Researchers mapped physical oceanographic features, sub-ice topography, and bathymetry in support of arctic acoustic thermometry experiments; a fourth surface station was conducted.
  
• A survey of the Lomonosov Ridge. Researchers evaluated the positions of physical ocean fronts, gathered additional geophysical information; a fifth surface station was conducted over the Alpha Ridge.
  

The U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC) is serving as a point of collection for titles of all SCICEX-related publications. The USARC has played a pivotal role in the establishment and continuation of this highly successful program. In 1994, after a successful proof-of-concept cruise aboard the USS Pargo in 1993, the submarine force and the scientific community signed a memorandum of agreement creating the SCICEX Program. Under that agreement, the U.S. Navy retains control over the submarine, ensuring the safety of the vessel and mission. All decisions regarding the science plan and research program are left in the hands of the scientists.

The SCICEX memorandum of agreement was signed by the U.S. Office of Naval Research, NSF, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Geological Survey. Collectively, these four agencies form a science steering committee that provides an overall vision for the program, and selects experiments and scientists to carry out the cruises.
The vessels supporting the SCICEX cruises are all expected to be Sturgeon (SSN637) class submarines. Capable of reaching depths greater than 800 feet and speeds greater than 25 knots, they operate with great mobility and remain submerged for months.


Table 1.