Ingenious tracking device helps polar researchers

by Rich Bowden - Aug 11 2008, 21:40

For many years polar researchers surveying Antarctic waters have had problems monitoring remote areas of the Antarctic seas because of thick ice.

Traditional methods for monitoring sea temperatures such as buoyant floats and research vessels have proven ineffective under such severe conditions.

However scientists at France's National Museum of Natural History have enlisted the help of 58 wild elephant seals in an ingenious ploy to resolve the problem, reports the New Scientist.

Led by Jean-Benoit Charrassin, the team have installed satellite tracking devices on the seals by gluing them to their heads using a strong, waterproof glue. The devices are able to be used for up to a year say the research team.

The sensitive devices are able to take accurate measurements of salinity, temperature and depth, and relay them by satellite, says the report.

"The seals are in a key area and they can measure important parameters that are difficult to obtain otherwise," said Charrassin.

"I consider it a real breakthrough in ocean observation," says Michael Fedak, part of the team who designed and built the data transmitters.

The data collected will be vital for polar researchers to monitor temperature changes in the region due to climate change.

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