It is the third and final year of an Arctic mapping project to collect data about the reach of the continental shelf under the Arctic Ocean, Canada's least known and least mapped ocean. That means lost time and lost opportunity to gather data, Hains told CBC News. It also takes core samples and tests the rock and subsoil to better understand the geology under the Arctic Ocean. Making a case for CanadaWhat is defined as "continental shelf" depends on a combination of the thickness of the sediment and the depth of the water. The Canadian Hydrographic Service plans to piggyback on such research expeditions, as well as commercial voyages, to enlarge its knowledge of the Arctic Ocean, Hains said.

Source: CBC News August 20, 2016 08:59 UTC