Source: Underwater Acoustic Engineering Research Center

Recently, China's research icebreaker Xuelong returned to Shanghai after finishing its 9th Arctic Research Expedition, which lasted 69 days from July 20 to September 26, 2018. The Icebreaker traveled over 12,500 nautical miles, including 3,815 through ice, reaching 84.8 degrees north latitude.

During the 9th Arctic Research Expedition, Dr. WU Yuquan, from the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, served as the leader of the acoustic observation group.

The acoustic observation group has carried out acoustical comprehensive observation experiment for 15 days, to complete the multi-branch ocean acoustical cross-observation. They continuously observed for up to 17 hours.

The experiment would contribute to further reveal the special acoustical environment in the polar ice area and the evolution mechanism of underwater target characteristics, providing technical support for utilizing the Arctic waterway in the future.