Sonic Discoveries: Researchers Use Sonoboyas to Study Elusive Blue Whales in Antarctica

Researchers have utilized sonoboyas equipped with hydrophones to locate blue whales in Antarctica. These devices transmit sounds to a boat in real time via a VHF radio link, allowing researchers to determine the direction of the calls and deploy more instruments to obtain an accurate position. A team of specialists can analyze this data to gain insights into the distribution and behavior of these elusive animals.

The international team has released a comprehensive report on the distribution of blue whales in Antarctica based on acoustic data. The study, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, highlights that blue whales are dispersed around Antarctica and across subantarctic regions during the summer months.

Brian Miller, a marine mammal expert at the Australian Antarctic Program, led the study. He notes that blue whales are the largest animals on Earth, but it is their unique sound that helps locate them. Over nearly two decades, the team has used sonoboyas as listening stations to track and record Antarctic blue whale and other cetacean sounds.

In combination with methods such as satellite tracking, video tracking, photography, DNA sampling, drones, and artificial intelligence, the team collected data from listening stations in Antarctica for almost 3,900 hours over eight months covering over 145,510 kilometers at sea. This allowed them to build a comprehensive picture of the distribution, abundance, and behavior of these elusive animals.