Tracking Antarctic Seals and Penguins From Outer Space
Use The Same Technology As Scientists To Track Antarctic Animals This Summer!
Several months ago, US government scientists captured 60 penguins and seals off the coast of Antarctica, attached electronic tags to them, and then released them back into the wild.
The lightweight tags, placed on chinstrap penguins, Antarctic fur seals, leopard seals, Weddell seals and gentoo penguins, transmit a constant signal to satellites that orbit the earth in outer space. The satellites then relay the location of the 60 animals back to Earth, where scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Antarctic Marine Living Resources program use it to learn about the movements of animals off the coast of the world’s coldest continent.
But scientists don’t get to have all the fun. NOAA is making the frequently updated computerized maps of the animals’ travels available to students, wildlife enthusiasts and other members of the public.
