Telemetry

Diving into the third dimension

Whales spend only 10% to 20% of their time at the surface. This is often all that scientists have to work with.

In the St. Lawrence, scientists are now using satellite and radio (VHF) telemetry. These techniques enable them to study whales in their world beneath the surface.

Satellite telemetry

Ideal for:

• Studying the movements of whales over very long distances
• Obtaining information summaries on activities over long periods of time

Mike Hammill and Véronique Lesage of the Maurice Lamontagne Institute study seal behaviour using satellite telemetry.

Richard Sears of MICS studies the movements of blue whales with the help of satellite transmitters.

Radio telemetry

Ideal for:

• Understanding details on how whales live
• Tracking their movements over short distances

Janie Giard of GREMM and Véronique Lesage of Maurice Lamontagne Institute study blue whales using data recorders equiped with radio transmitters.

Some emitters—like those developed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for the study of beluga whales in collaboration with the GREMM—are equipped with a sound recording device. These emitters are used to study the vocal behaviour of beluga whales and their exposure to ambient noise.

Discover projects that use the telemetry technique:

Do whale-watching boats disturb the whales?

What do fin whales do during the day? And at night?

Are we making too much noise?

What do blue whales do underwater?

What do belugas do underwater?

Other techniques