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Loading...Whales Help Measure Global Warming
- Jake Richardson
- October 31, 2010
- 7:03 am
- 55 comments
Narwhals are toothed Arctic whales capable of deep dives. Scientists were able to attach sensors to the whales to record ocean depths and temperatures. Some of the narwhals dove deeper than one mile. The whales are able to swim and feed even during winter conditions in Baffin Bay near West Greenland, but scientists have more difficulty conducting their research then due to the increase in ice and harsh weather. So they hatched the plan to place sensors on the whales during winter and take measurements using a much easier method. Previously scientists had relied on long-term historical data based on averages, but not many direct measurements.
“Narwhals natural behavior makes them ideal for obtaining ocean temperatures during repetitive deep vertical dives. This mission was a ‘proof-of-concept’ that narwhal-obtained data can be used to make large-scale hydrographic surveys in Baffin Bay and to extend the coverage of a historical database into the poorly sampled winter season,” said Kristin Laidre from the Polar Science Center. (Source: NOAA.gov)
The new direct measurements coming from the whale-based sensors did help the scientists fill in gaps in their data. They found on average their ocean temperature measurements were almost a full degree greater than those in climatology data. Fourteen adult narwhals were tagged with the sensors which recorded date, time, depth, and temperature data. When the narwhals surfaced between sea ice to breathe, data from the sensors was transmitted to satellites. Sensors were tagged to the narwhals according to University of Washington guidelines which protect animals used in research. Each sensor collected up to seven months of data before falling off.
Read more: Nature, Nature & Wildlife, arctic, climate change, narwhals
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people are talking
Interesting, thanks.
thank you for sharing 20/6
Thanks for posting
Probably the best place to start, but I would add that your body is telling you what to eat, do that…
ty
55 comments
+ add your ownVery cool!!! Canada please protect these unique animals...thanks
scary
Wonder what the whales think of this?
Thanks for sharing.
Amazing
love narwhal whales, can we reimburse them for their help by working as hard as possible to mitigate/minimize the effects of global warming.
Great animals. Thanks for sharing.
I agree with your concern butI just read a book about interspecies communication, a work of fiction by American Indian author, Four Arrows, entitled Last Song of the Whales, that says as long as we remain "human-centered" we may never fix the problem. This is a short easy read and perfect for the beginning of understanding. Read it!
They are amazing creatures!!! Great article!
Bless All The Whales... & ty Jake.
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