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Climate change’s effects on ocean water temperatures and salinity could shrink sonar detection ranges underwater and make it more challenging to spot submarines
By Jeremy Hsu
23 April 2024
The attack submarine USS Hampton is surfaced through ice on the Arctic Ocean in 2024
Specialist 1st Class Justin Yarborough/U.S. Navy
The attack submarine USS Hampton is surfaced through ice on the Arctic Ocean in 2024
Specialist 1st Class Justin Yarborough/U.S. Navy
Climate change could reduce the range of sonar detection in certain ocean regions, making it harder to hunt down submarines prowling beneath the waves.
Sonar is crucial for military efforts to track rivals’ ballistic missile submarines. These vessels can lurk in the ocean depths for months before launching a dozen or more nuclear-tipped missiles in the event of a nuclear war. Submarines can also play their more traditional role of attacking surface ships in conventional…
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