A short history of ONR ice camps: 1978–1994

Abstract

The Office of Naval Research sponsored Arctic field programs almost every year from 1978 to 1994 during the height of the Cold War. Almost all of them had an acoustics component coupled with observations for physical oceanography, geoacoustics, plate tectonics, ice mechanics, and used both active and passive methods. In 1978, these started with emphasis on basin reverberation and ended in 1994 with trans Arctic Ocean tomography. They had acronyms from CANBARX (Canadian Basin), FRAM I—IV, MIZEZ (Marginal Ice Zone), PRUDEX (Prudoe Bay) CEAREX and SIMI/TAP (Sea Ice Mechanics/Trans Arctic Propagation). The author was the chief scientist for most of these programs and will provide an overview of ONR's efforts in the Arctic during the Cold War. [Work supported by ONR.]