White Sea harp seals satellite-based monitoring

20 May 2010, 8:52am

2010-05-20 - The satellite-based monitoring of the White Sea water area for coordination of ship routes bypassing the seal whelping areas is complete. The project “White Sea 2010” by the initiative of the Federal Agency for Marine and River Transport was carried out by ScanEx RDC together with other organizations.

During the monitoring based on the data acquired from EROS B and SPOT 4 satellites, as well as RADARSAT-1 radar images, ice situation in the White Sea was estimated, seal whelping sites detected and recommendations for ships transit given. Satellite image were delivered in direct reception mode to the “UniScan” ground receiving station in Moscow and processed by ScanEx specialists. After that the satellite data was promptly transmitted to the Arkhangelsk Hydrometeorological Center, Ice Operations Headquarters (port of Arkhangelsk), FSUE Atomflot, Rosmorport and Murmansk Sea Shipping Company via the special geoservice “Kosmosnimki — White Sea”.

— Such a well-coordinated work of different organizations and institutions enabled both to increase the efficiency of satellite data application for monitoring of ship navigation in the White Sea and to demonstrate the new quality possibilities of joint application of space technologies, - points out Deputy General Director of FSUE Atomflot Andrei Smirnov.

Within the frames of the White Sea maritime monitoring the whelping areas of the harp seals in spring 2010 were detected based on EROS B detailed imagery. Indicative signs were winding trails left by the animals while moving on ice floes and round ice “breathing” holes in fresh ice.

- Using EROS B data seal nursery areas were detected: in the central parts of the basin and in southern part of the White Sea “bottle-neck”. Radar image in their turn enabled to detect ships, escorted by ice-breakers, with a high probability degree and to detect earlier shipping channels prepared by ice-breakers, – explains White Sea 2010 Project Head, ScanEx Deputy General Director Alexei Kucheiko.

- Application of modern methods allowed us to correct ice-breakers’ and ships’ routes through the White Sea bypassing the harp seal whelping areas. I’m glad to note that it is the second time when space technologies enable to minimize negative impact of humans on the native habitat of the White Sea, - sums up First Deputy Captain of the Arkhangelsk Sea Port Sergei Kozub.

Source: ScanEx RDC Moscow

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ScanEx RDC Moscow

Geo: International