Tagging Whales From Above: How Drones are Transforming Marine Research (Again)

Malek Murison · Issue 126, May/Jun 2022 · pp. 38–42

Products mentioned: DJI Inspire, DJI M210

Picture a scene that’s synonymous with the climate crisis. Maybe your mind jumped to the Amazon rainforest or the polar ice caps, where deforestation and rapid melting have long been rallying points for conservation efforts. But the latest research suggests it’s oceans that are key to tempering climate change. In fact, a microorganism you’ve probably never heard of captures 40 percent of Earth’s carbon emissions and produces oxygen for two out of every three breaths you take. These microscopic algae are called phytoplankton. It’s both the cornerstone of the marine ecosystem and a highly effective carbon capture system. Phytoplankton depends on a steady supply of nutrients, including phosphorus, iron, and nitrogen. Fortunately, right at the top of the ocean food chain lives an incredibly efficient fertilizing machine: the whale. Scientists have recently discovered that baleen whales eat f…