160308-N-QA919-774 ARCTIC CIRCLE (March 8, 2016) Dr. Joan Gardener, right, and Dr. Rick Hagen, with the Naval Research Laboratory, drill a hole into 6 feet of ice to collect water samples, ice cores, and temperature readings. Their efforts are part of an ongoing research project for ice characterization during Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2016. ICEX 2016 is a five-week exercise designed to research, test, and evaluate operational capabilities in the region. ICEX 2016 allows the U.S. Navy to assess operational readiness in the Arctic, increase experience in the region, advance understanding of the Arctic Environment, and develop partnerships and collaborative efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler N. Thompson)