Satellite tracking
Satellite linked radio transmitters and Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
Blue whales feeding on krill swarm.
Photo: Peter Gill
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Small radio transmitters called Platform Transmitting Terminals (PTTs) send a unique radio frequency to polar orbiting satellites (System Argos). As these satellites receive several radio transmissions in a row, they can calculate an approximate position of that PTT (and the animal it is attached to) and send that information back to earth.
Scientists can now attach a PTT to a seal or whale and then track the animals movements from their computer in their office.
This technology has allowed us to watch the enormous distances many of these marine predators travel. More recently, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) units are being built that provide location accuracy within 10 metres of their real location. With these instruments we hope to be able to study very fine scale movements of animals. For example, the time a whale spends feeding within a patch of krill.
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Adélie penguins
- Adélie penguin satellite tracks (including an animation of their foraging behaviour)
- Antarctic Pack-Ice Seals (APIS)
