Seals help Japanese researchers collect data under Antarctic ice

TOKYO, March 1 – A seal sporting a helmet with an antenna may look uncommon, however eight Weddell seals, every with a 580g monitoring machine on their heads, have been serving to Japanese researchers survey the waters below the thick ice sheet in Antarctica.

Tapped for a analysis challenge between March and November 2017 – winter in Antarctica – these seals had been geared up with the head-mounted conductivity, temperature and depth sensor, which permits scientists to gather commentary knowledge, reminiscent of water temperatures and salt ranges, in areas with extraordinarily harsh environmental circumstances.

Mission chief Nobuo Kokubun stated such analysis helps scientists hint the animals’ behavioral patterns and ecology.

“Throughout the summer season, we are able to go to Antarctica on icebreakers to conduct precise analysis actions, in order that we are able to accumulate knowledge there. However throughout the winter, such issues can't be completed in so many locations,” Kokubun stated throughout an interview with Reuters on Friday.

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This video seize exhibits a Weddell seal fitted with high-tech head-mounted measuring units to survey waters below the thick ice sheet, close to Japan’s Showa Station in Antarctica.

Reuters

“Nevertheless, even in such a state of affairs, many animals reminiscent of seals live within the space of Antarctica, so I assumed we should always have them accumulate the info,” Kokubun added.

The info efficiently gathered from seven seals confirmed one among them had traveled so far as 633km (393 miles) from the coast of Japan’s Showa Station in Antarctica, whereas one other had descended to a depth of 700m (2,297 ft).

Kokubun stated the scientists additionally realized from the info that heat seawater from the higher layer within the open sea reached Antarctica from March via winter that 12 months. The water flowed under the ice, bringing in sea creatures like Antarctic krill, a serious meals supply for seals.

The info helps researchers to check the impression of local weather change alongside the coasts of Antarctica.

Reuters

Aiming to look at additional the impression of world warming on Antarctic coastal areas, Kokubun subsequent hopes to make the machine sufficiently small to suit on different animals on the South Pole reminiscent of penguins.

“The benefit with penguins is that they arrive again to the identical place and we are able to accumulate the info from them instantly. Additionally, we are able to use the units on a lot of penguins to allow them to cowl a large space,” he stated.