Seals Help Researchers Study Antarctic Waters
2022-03-07
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1Japanese researchers placed electronic devices on seals in Antarctic waters to collect surprising information about the environment there.
2The scientists said the seals can get to areas that are difficult for them to reach, especially during the difficult winter months in Antarctica.
3Japan's National Institute of Polar Research started the research project in 2017.
4The team recently reported its results in a study in the publication Limnology and Oceanography.
5Eight Weddell seals were fitted with the devices, which have antennas to send electronic signals.
6The 580-gram monitoring devices were attached to the animals' heads.
7They were designed to measure data such as water temperatures and sea salt levels.
8Investigative teams on ships have difficulty reaching important research areas in Antarctica.
9These include areas along continental shelf formations where ice is attached to the shore, the National Institute of Polar Research said in a statement.
10Nobuo Kokubun led the project.
11He told Reuters that the research also helps scientists follow the seals' behaviors and learn about their relationship to the environment.
12"During the summer, we can go to Antarctica on icebreakers to conduct actual research activities, so that we can collect data there," Kokubun said.
13"But during the winter, such things cannot be done in so many places."
14Since the seals are active year-round, Kokubun added, "I thought we should have them collect the data."
15Information gathered from the seals showed that one of the animals traveled as far as 633 kilometers from Japan's Showa Station in Antarctica.
16Another dove to a depth of 700 meters.
17Kokubun said the scientists learned from the data that warm seawater from the upper levels of the open sea reached Antarctica from March through the winter of 2017.
18The water flowed below the ice, bringing in sea creatures like Antarctic krill, an important food for seals.
19Kokubun and his team plan to keep finding new ways to further examine the effects of climate change on Antarctic coastal areas.
20Next, he hopes to make the device small enough to fit on other animals at the South Pole, such as penguins.
21"The advantage with penguins is that they come back to the same place and we can collect... data from them immediately," Kokubun said.
22"Also, we can use the devices on a large number of penguins so they can cover a wide area," he added.
23I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Japanese researchers placed electronic devices on seals in Antarctic waters to collect surprising information about the environment there. 2The scientists said the seals can get to areas that are difficult for them to reach, especially during the difficult winter months in Antarctica. 3Japan's National Institute of Polar Research started the research project in 2017. The team recently reported its results in a study in the publication Limnology and Oceanography. 4Eight Weddell seals were fitted with the devices, which have antennas to send electronic signals. The 580-gram monitoring devices were attached to the animals' heads. They were designed to measure data such as water temperatures and sea salt levels. 5Investigative teams on ships have difficulty reaching important research areas in Antarctica. These include areas along continental shelf formations where ice is attached to the shore, the National Institute of Polar Research said in a statement. 6Nobuo Kokubun led the project. He told Reuters that the research also helps scientists follow the seals' behaviors and learn about their relationship to the environment. 7"During the summer, we can go to Antarctica on icebreakers to conduct actual research activities, so that we can collect data there," Kokubun said. "But during the winter, such things cannot be done in so many places." 8Since the seals are active year-round, Kokubun added, "I thought we should have them collect the data." 9Information gathered from the seals showed that one of the animals traveled as far as 633 kilometers from Japan's Showa Station in Antarctica. Another dove to a depth of 700 meters. 10Kokubun said the scientists learned from the data that warm seawater from the upper levels of the open sea reached Antarctica from March through the winter of 2017. The water flowed below the ice, bringing in sea creatures like Antarctic krill, an important food for seals. 11Kokubun and his team plan to keep finding new ways to further examine the effects of climate change on Antarctic coastal areas. Next, he hopes to make the device small enough to fit on other animals at the South Pole, such as penguins. 12"The advantage with penguins is that they come back to the same place and we can collect... data from them immediately," Kokubun said. 13"Also, we can use the devices on a large number of penguins so they can cover a wide area," he added. 14I'm Bryan Lynn. 15Reuters and the National Institute of Polar Research reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 16We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 17________________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19antenna - n. a device used to send or receive communications signals 20monitoring - adj. related to a device used to measure things and gather information 21continental shelf - n. the area at the bottom of the ocean near the coast of a continent, where the sea is not very deep 22shore - n. land along the edge of an area of water 23icebreaker - n. a strong ship that can break passages through ice 24conduct - v. to carry out 25advantage - n. something (such as a good position or condition) that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others