Why attack submarines do not freely survey beneath Arctic ice

Did early nuclear attack submarines conduct extensive hydrographic surveying under Arctic ice?

Not freely: using active sonar would reveal them, so separate ice-survey teams and scientific measurements remained important.

Early nuclear attack submarines could not routinely perform overt hydrographic surveys beneath the Arctic ice. Active sonar would reveal their presence, while changing ice conditions make under-ice navigation hazardous. Navies therefore also depend on dedicated scientific teams and externally gathered ice measurements. The problem exposes a recurring tension between collecting high-quality environmental data and preserving submarine stealth.