Why go whale looking at on the large seas when you can see the mammals from place?
Scientists from the University of Cambridge and British Antarctic Survey employed specific, large-resolution satellite pictures supplied by Maxar Technologies‘ DigitalGlobe to detect and watch unique species of whales.
Their research, just released in the journal Maritime Mammal Science journal, implies a price-efficient technique for learning whales in inaccessible, difficult-to-achieve areas the place conventional monitoring is constrained or impractical. The approach could aid other maritime biologists hold tabs on whale inhabitants alterations and far better comprehend their migratory conduct.
Utilizing incredibly large resolution (VHR) satellite imagery, scientists discovered and explained 4 unique mysticete (substantial whale) species: fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Pelagos Sanctuary in the Mediterranean grey whales (Eschrichtius robustus) on the coastline of Mexico humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in close proximity to Hawaii and southern suitable whales (Eubalaena australis) in Argentina.
Scientists were being capable to speedily discover equally fin and grey whales (as opposed to humpback whales and southern suitable whales) from their exceptional physique coloration, which contrasts with the ocean h2o.
Curiously, the examine reveals that some whale species are a lot less complicated to discover by way of satellite than conventional procedures.
‘This is the most specific imagery of whales captured by satellites to day,’ direct examine author Hannah Cubaynes, a whale ecologist from College of Cambridge, mentioned in a British Antarctic Survey interview Thursday. ‘It’s fascinating that the enhanced resolution … reveals attribute characteristics, this sort of as flippers and flukes, which can be observed in the pictures for the initially time.’