Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/E/S/2001/00134
Autonomous, satellite-linked, ocean profiler delivering salinity/temperature/depth profiles of oceanographic quality for deployment on marine mammals
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor M Fedak, University of St Andrews, Biology
- Grant held at:
- University of St Andrews, Biology
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- None
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- Funding was used to develop an oceanographic temperature/salinity profiler carried by marine mammals that would relay collected information back via the Argos satellite system. Prototype devices were placed on wild Beluga whales in Svalbard. During the freezing period in the fjord from 7-24 November 2001, CTD-profiles were sent from 540 geographic positions, covering an area of ~8,000 km2. We demonstrated that high quality CTD data can be collected by marine mammals and relayed from logistically difficult areas. This first deployment has lead to new insights into oceanographic processes. Marine mammals have been shown to target oceanographic discontinuities for foraging and thus may be good 'adaptive samplers' that naturally seek areas of high oceanographic interest. Marine-mammal-based CTDs have enormous potential for cost-effective Oceanographic studies.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/E/S/2001/00134
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Connect A Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Connect A
This grant award has a total value of £5,002
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Other Costs | Total - Equipment |
|---|---|
| £126 | £4,876 |
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