Scientists locate Antarctic blue whales through their vocalizations

Researchers utilize sonoboyas equipped with hydrophones that transmit sounds to a boat in real time via a VHF radio link. Upon detecting blue whale calls, a team of specialists can determine the direction and deploy more instruments to obtain an accurate position. The information was shared by the Australian Antarctic Program through a photo release.

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

Brian Miller, a marine mammal expert at the Australian Antarctic Program, led the study, noting that blue whales are the largest animals on Earth. It is not their size but the sound they produce 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. After monitoring almost 3,900 hours of sound over more than eight months covering over 145,510 kilometers at sea, the research team was able to build a comprehensive picture of the distribution, abundance, and behavior of these elusive animals.