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A group of British scientists used high resolution satellite technology to identify whale species from space.
Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have begun mapping migration patterns of four different whale species, to better understand giant mammals.
The images are captured by the WorldView-3 satellite, which can identify objects as small as 12 inches wide. Until now, the technology has already been used to detect South whale rights around Península Valdés, Argentina; fin whales in parts of the northern Mediterranean; humpback whales near Hawaii; and Pacific gray whales at Laguna San Ignacio, Mexico.
"This is the most detailed imagery of whales captured by satellites so far. It is interesting to note that the improved resolution reveals features, such as fins and fins, that can be seen on the images for the first time, "said Hannah Cubaynes, lead author of the study and ecologist specialist. cetaceans at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Cambridge University. "The ability to track whales without traveling to remote and inaccessible areas in a cost-effective manner will be of great benefit to whale conservation efforts."
Some species, such as right whales and gray whales, are easier to identify because their color contrasts with water. Meanwhile, the energy behavior of humpback whales makes them more difficult to capture in satellite imagery.
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