Multimedia Release: Coast Guard conducts Arctic Domain Awareness flight north of Alaska

An Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules airplane crew conducts an Arctic Domain Awareness flight with scientists from NOAA and the University of Washington's Polar Science Center above the Arctic Circle in Alaska Tuesday, July 16, 2013.

The crew deployed sensors to take air and water measurements and overflew the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star.

U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Mooers.

The Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star transits near the beginning of the ice edge in the Chukchi Sea north of Wainwright, Alaska, Tuesday, July 16, 2013.

The heavy icebreaker's crew is undergoing ice trails following the conclusion of a major overhaul in 2012 to return the ship to service.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Mooers.

Aircraft Expendable Conductivity Temperature Depth or AXCTD and Aircraft Expendable Current Profiler or AXCP sensors deployed by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jesse Sanchez and Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Matthews, both aviation maintenance technicians, drift to the surface of the Arctic Ocean from an Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules airplane above the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska, Tuesday, July 16, 2013.

The sensors gather data about the ocean as they descend through the water column and are deployed through a partnership between the Coast Guard and the University of Washington's Polar Science Center.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Mooers.

A Dropsonde sensor acquires a GPS signal prior to being deployed by the crew of a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane above the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska, Tuesday, July 16, 2013.

The Dropsonde's temperature, humidity and wind readings were collected by the University of Washington's Polar Science Center team as it traveled from 10,000 feet to sea level.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Mooers.

Axel Schweiger, principal scientist and chair at the University of Washington's Polar Science Center, prepares one of five Dropsonde sensors for deployment while aboard a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane above the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska, Tuesday, July 16, 2013.

The Dropsonde sensors collect temperature, humidity and wind readings as they travel from 10,000 feet to sea level.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Mooers.

Roger Andersen, senior mathematician at the University of Washington's Polar Science Center, and Axel Schweiger, principal scientist and chair of the University of Washington's Polar Science Center, review air sample data received from a Dropsonde sensor while aboard a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane above the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska, Tuesday, July 16, 2013.

The Dropsonde sensor's data paired with other research helps scientists understand and predict weather and ice conditions as the season progresses.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Mooers.