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Whale Census and Habitat - Caption

Data from spaceborne altimeters on the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite were used to locate eddies as part of the 1996-1997 GulfCet program which was run by Texas A&M oceanographers based in College Station, and marine mammal biologists based in Galveston, with support from satellite oceanographers at the University of Colorado. The goal of the program was to estimate the population of the Gulf of Mexico's 18 common whales in the continental margin areas of current oil and gas exploration will likely intensify in the near future. Sperm whales are of special interest to this survey because they are an endangered species. Altimetric monitoring of the general circulation in the Gulf of Mexico served two purposes in GulfCet studies. Near-real-time altimeter data were used to map eddies, and these mapes were used to plan research cruises that would optimize the census process. Historical altimeter data were used to map the fronts and eddies that occurred during the cruises. These historical data helped marine mammal biologists interpret ocean conditiond and their relationship to whale sightings. Scientists have learned that sperm whales are more abundant in areas where there are cyclones and in other habitats where nutrients and plankton are plentiful and near the surface. Where there were higher-than-average stocks of phytoplankton and squid, sperm whales gathered to feed. Locations of the cyclones can be tracked using altimeter data. Surveying these areas from ships enables scientists to gather information on the number as well as the behavior of whales. (For information on this research, see http://www-ocean.tamu.edu/Quarterdeck/QD6.1/qdhome-6.1.html .) This type of work is expected to be continued with Jason-1, which is the follow-on mission to TOPEX/Poseidon.