Polar bears from space: Satellite imagery a promising tool to monitor arctic polar bears

Date:

July 9, 2014

Source:

PLOS

Summary:

The potentially severe impacts of climate change in the Arctic may threaten regional wildlife. Scientists trying to develop efficient and effective wildlife monitoring techniques to track Arctic populations face great challenges, including the remoteness and associated logistical constraints of accessing wildlife. Polar bear population estimates based on satellite images are similar to aerial estimates, according to new research.

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New mapping technique may aid Scottish shark projects

Satellite imagery of microscopic life in the seas around Scotland could boost understanding of the world's second largest fish, a new report suggests.

In a Scottish first, maps have been produced to show phytoplankton blooms and plumes of sediment off various parts of the coast.

Phytoplankton and certain sediments provide food and nutrients for animals.

These include huge basking sharks, as well as smaller fish which provide prey for seals and seabirds.

In the study commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), scientists said mapping techniques could offer additional information on the behaviour of satellite-tagged sharks and birds.

For the study, researchers processed more than 6,000 ocean colour scenes taken by the European Space Agency's Envisat satellite from 2009 to 2011.

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