High Arctic Ocean Observation System

Project Information

HiAOOS

Grant agreement ID: 101094621

DOI

10.3030/101094621

EC signature date 13 December 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 December 2027

Funded under

• Research infrastructures

Total cost

€ 9 500 358,51

EU contribution

€ 9 500 358,51

Coordinated by

STIFTELSEN NANSEN SENTER FOR MILJOOG FJERNMALING
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - HiAOOS (High Arctic Ocean Observation System)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The Arctic Ocean remains one of the least explored regions on Earth, with limited data from beneath the sea ice and the seafloor. This lack of in situ observations restricts scientific understanding of climate, ocean-ice interactions, and geophysical hazards. To address this, the HiAOOS project is developing and testing new technologies to improve data collection in the ice-covered Arctic.
A network of multipurpose moorings will be deployed in the Nansen and Amundsen Basins for two years. These moorings will collect ocean and sea ice data, as well as acoustic signals for applications such as underwater positioning, acoustic thermometry, and monitoring of marine life and geohazards. The system builds on previous Arctic experiments and introduces innovations like ROV- and winch-based data retrieval.
HiAOOS is also developing ice buoys with acoustic arrays for testing underwater navigation and event localization. New digital tools and machine learning methods will support data analysis and be made available through the Blue Insight platform and Zenodo. Training and use cases will help research infrastructures and developers adopt these tools. Data products will follow FAIR principles and be shared via open-access platforms. Field experiments will run annually from 2024 to 2026, with environmental assessments conducted before each campaign.

The overall objective of HiAOOS is:
Advance the uptake of new ocean observing capabilities and capacity in the high Arctic to strengthen European and national infrastructures in their effort to support new and ambitions research within climate, environment and geohazards. Specific objectives:
Specific objectives are:
SO1: Establish collaboration with existing and emerging research infrastructures in the Arctic
SO2: Improve the observing capabilities in ice-covered Arctic Ocean through new infrastructure
SO3: Unlock new observing capacity to Ris and researchers through methods, tools and training
SO4: Advance observing systems in the Arctic building on subsea technology
SO5: Reduce environmental impact of Arctic observing systems
SO6: Comply with the FAIR principles and contribute to Open Science.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the second reporting period (January 2024 to April 2025), the HiAOOS project made substantial progress in developing new technologies and systems to observe the Arctic Ocean. The project successfully deployed a network of multipurpose moorings in the Nansen and Amundsen Basins. These moorings are equipped with instruments for acoustic thermometry, underwater positioning, and passive acoustic monitoring, enabling year-round data collection even under sea ice.
A major achievement was the 2024 Arctic cruise aboard KV Svalbard, which deployed four moorings and tested several new systems. These included an autonomous Ice Buoy designed for long-term operation in polar conditions, and a next-generation mooring system featuring an inductive docking station for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). This docking station allows data harvesting and battery charging without recovering the entire mooring, reducing both cost and environmental impact.
Environmental assessments confirmed that the acoustic systems used are safe for marine life, with low transmission power and long silent intervals. The project also published oceanographic data from the cruise through the Norwegian Marine Data Centre and developed open-source tools for data analysis, including Python libraries and Jupyter notebooks.
Training activities were a key part of the project. A research school and onboard training sessions helped early-career researchers gain hands-on experience with Arctic fieldwork and data collection. These efforts support the long-term goal of building capacity for Arctic science across Europe.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

HiAOOS has introduced several innovations that go beyond current Arctic observing capabilities. The project’s transformative mooring systems allow data retrieval and battery charging without full recovery, making long-term monitoring more feasible and sustainable. The integration of acoustic geo-positioning and thermometry enables precise tracking of floats and temperature changes across the Arctic Ocean, even under ice.
Real-time data transmission has been demonstrated using acoustic modems and satellite links, opening new possibilities for continuous monitoring in remote regions. Analytical tools developed by the project support earthquake detection, marine life monitoring, and validation of ocean models. These tools are openly available and designed to be reused across scientific disciplines.
The Blue Insight digital platform was enhanced to support data integration and visualization. It now includes containerized workflows, a task orchestrator framework, and 3D visualization tools, making it easier for researchers to work with complex datasets.
To ensure further uptake and long-term success, HiAOOS is preparing proposals for national and EU funding to expand the infrastructure. The project is also working with industry partners to commercialize validated technologies and align with European digital twin initiatives. All data and tools are shared in line with FAIR principles, supporting transparency and collaboration.