Scientists and engineers from the NATO Science and Technology Organisation’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) have begun two combined research missions in the Arctic to assess the impact of climate change. The results of these studies will help NATO adapt to global warming and the environmental transformation occurring in the region. The research will be conducted on the NATO research ship NRV Alliance and will focus on how the transformation of the Arctic affects sonar performance, which will help in adapting technology for submarines, uncrewed underwater vehicles, and other capabilities operating in the fast-changing Arctic ocean conditions.
The research missions, NREP 24 (Nordic Recognized Environmental Picture) and ACO 24 (Arctic Climate Observatory), will take place in the Barents Sea Polar Front, a region where Atlantic and Arctic water masses meet but do not mix. NREP 24 will focus on changes in sound propagation in the central Barents Sea, while ACO 24 will collect data on long-term environmental conditions in the area, including marine biology, water movements, and the soundscape. These missions will be conducted from 8 June to 12 July 2024 and will involve the participation of partner institutions from various countries.
NREP 24 is a project funded by NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT), with participation from partner institutions from France, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. ACO 24, on the other hand, is funded by the NATO Science and Technology Organisation (STO) – Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) and will have partners from France, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Both research missions will be led by the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation, with CMRE and partner staff on board NRV Alliance supported by a reach-back team working from various research institutions in Allied countries to analyze and process data.
NREP 24 is part of a multi-year oceanographic research project that began in 2017 and has been conducted in different parts of the Arctic Ocean. ACO 24 is the second iteration of a study that was launched in 2023 as a long-term oceanographic research project. The Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation, as an executive body of the NATO Science and Technology Organisation, organizes and conducts scientific research and technology development to deliver innovative solutions addressing the defence and security needs of the Alliance, with a specific focus on the maritime domain. Overall, these research missions will provide valuable data on the impact of climate change in the Arctic and help NATO adapt to the changing environmental conditions in the region.
