How Tagging Seals with Sensors is Helping Scientists Acquire Invaluable Data in Climate Change Research
Climate change is a matter of huge debate today with two sides of conflicting opinions. That’s not to say, it doesn’t exist, climate change is very real and unusual weather around the world is proof of it. A major factor impacting climate change are ocean currents, and glacial abnormalities but acquiring data is not easy. To that effect, scientists have hit upon an amazing idea of tagging seals with advanced sensors to gather data on oceanographic conditions. Scientists have been using seals for the last 2 decades with even NASA placing sensor like caps on the heads of elephant seals as well.
The Idea of Using Seals in Antarctica
Several species of seals live near Antarctica who dive almost 100 meters into the ocean forging for food. Seals are also experts in navigating ocean currents in the Southern Ocean. Seals are adventurous which is what makes them the perfect research assistant for acquiring oceanographic data. The approach provides researchers the perfect field worker to collect data on temperature, changing ocean currents, salinity, depth, and ecological changes for more clarity on how climate change and global warming is affecting marine environments.
The Technology Behind It
Source: MaREI
The sensors used in seal tagging are equipped with a range of technologies including GPS, accelerometers, and temperature sensors. These devices record data on the seals’ location, movements, and the surrounding environmental conditions. For instance, the tags can measure water temperature and salinity at different depths, providing detailed profiles of the ocean’s conditions. These data are then transmitted to researchers via satellite, enabling real-time monitoring.
Significant Findings from Seal Tagging Studies
Recent studies have revealed significant insights into oceanic changes. For example, research has shown how seals’ foraging patterns are shifting due to changes in prey distribution linked to warmer ocean temperatures. Additionally, data from seal tags have highlighted the alteration of ice habitats, which is critical for species dependent on ice-covered regions. This data helps scientists understand the broader ecological impacts of climate change.
Why Using Seals to Track Climate Change Is Better Than Oceanographic Ships
Using seals equipped with sensors, scientists can gather comprehensive climate data from the ocean at various depths, a task traditional ships struggle to achieve. For instance, Weddell seals can dive nearly 2,000 feet, while elephant seals exceed 3,000 feet, making them ideal for measuring temperatures at significant depths. Unlike ships, which provide data from single points, seals offer extensive spatial coverage, even in winter, crucial for understanding the warming waters affecting Antarctic glaciers.
Case Studies and Research Initiatives
A notable case study involved the tagging of seals in the Arctic to study the effects of melting sea ice. Researchers observed how the decline in ice cover influenced seal behavior and distribution. Another study focused on Antarctic seals, revealing changes in the patterns of krill distribution, a key food source for many marine species. These studies underscore the importance of seal tagging in tracking environmental shifts and their impacts on marine life.
NASA Uses Elephant Seals Fitted with Sensor Caps
NASA is collaborating with scientists to utilize elephant seals for climate research by equipping them with sensors fitted like caps on their heads. These sensors, attached to the seals, collect data on ocean temperature and salinity at depths traditional methods can’t reach. This innovative approach allows for continuous monitoring, providing more comprehensive and cost-effective data compared to ship-based methods. The seals’ extensive dives, which can exceed 3,000 feet, offer crucial insights into the warming waters affecting Antarctic glaciers, thus enhancing our understanding of climate change impacts in these remote areas.
How One Elephant Seal Led Researchers to a Potential Disaster
In 2011, one southern elephant seal fitted with a sensor led researchers to a location in the Antarctic uncommon for seals. It was a vast oceanfront glacier called Denman, long being studied by researchers as a major threat to global coastlines. The Denman glacier rested on the seafloor with vast regions vulnerable to warm water, a major concern. According to many, it is easier to study the surface of the moon, than the Denman glacier, yet the seal’s movement in and around the glacier provided valuable data. Combined with the seal’s data and research robots, scientists discovered deep valleys beneath the Denman glacier equivalent to two grand canyons. If these were filled with warm water someday, global sea levels would rise by 5 feet.
Even more, scientists also found how the reeling glacier had been retreating backward towards the center of Antarctica since 1996, inviting the sea to the edge of the canyons.
Challenges and Limitations
While seal tagging provides valuable data, there are challenges associated with this method. The tags must be lightweight and durable to ensure they do not hinder the seals’ natural behavior. Additionally, retrieving the data requires successful tag deployments and recoveries, which can be logistically challenging. Despite these challenges, the benefits of the data collected often outweigh the difficulties encountered.
Tagging Does Not Affect Seal Behavior or Health
The ethical aspects of tagging seals are an important consideration. Researchers ensure that the tags are designed to minimize harm and discomfort to the animals. The goal is to gather crucial data without impacting the seals’ health or behavior. Ethical guidelines and welfare considerations are integral to the research process, ensuring that the animals’ well-being is prioritized. While the tag is glued to the seal’s head, it has been observed how the practice does not affect seal behavior. The tag simply falls off once the seal molts and sheds its coat every year
Prospects and Research Directions
The future of seal tagging looks promising, with advancements in technology poised to enhance the precision and scope of data collected. Emerging technologies, such as miniaturized sensors and improved data transmission methods, will likely provide even more detailed insights into oceanic changes. Continued research will be crucial for addressing the impacts of climate change and developing strategies to mitigate its effects on marine environments. However, when it comes to complex issues like the Denman glacier abnormalities, scientists feel, the seals have done their job, and it is time for humans to start studying these areas. The main reason being what we don’t know is going to hurt us most.
