Researchers map Arctic soundscape beneath sea ice

MIT Lincoln Laboratory researchers deployed sensors beneath Arctic sea ice to detect acoustic signals and test communication capabilities.

By Sama News Agency

September 5, 2026

Three illuminated flags planted in snow with the aurora borealis glowing green above them at night. — Researchers deployed sensors and equipment beneath Arctic sea ice to study acoustic signals in remote polar regions, where the northern lights illuminate the harsh environment. (Phys.org)

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Researchers from MIT Lincoln Laboratory have detected a mix of natural and human-made sounds beneath the Arctic Ocean, including cracking sea ice, whale vocalizations, and shipping-vessel engines.

The team analyzed data from commercial off-the-shelf sensors that they integrated and deployed in 2024 during the U.S. Navy's Operation Ice Camp. In March 2026, the researchers returned to the Arctic with an improved version of one sensor—a geophone designed to detect vibrations in the sea ice.

The deployments represent an effort to test through-ice communication capabilities and study the acoustic environment beneath Arctic ice.

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