|
The Alaska Science Center received funding from the USGS Global Climate Change Program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and Polar Bears International (PBI) for studies using the latest remote sensing technology to fill key information gaps on how polar bears utilize the sea ice during different times of year. Female polar bears are captured, fitted with satellite telemetry collars, and followed throughout their annual range.
We expect to learn more about polar bear temporal and spatial use of sea ice, selection of ice type, and examine habitat needs both on ice and along the shore. Our research will focus particularly on understanding habitat relationships and developing predictive models of seasonal polar bear distribution relative to sea ice extent and composition. This information will provide science for conservation efforts and help scientists and managers better understand the effects of global-scale events including habitat loss and climate change.
You need Google Earth installed on your personal computer to view an interactive file of polar bear movements. To get Google Earth free.
Click on the movements link below, if Google Earth doesn't automatically open:
In Internet Explorer - you will get a File Download window that asks you "Do you want to open or save this file?" Select Open. You will then get a window that says "Windows cannot open this file", choose "Select the program from a list". Click the Browse button in the bottom right corner. It will bring up the Program Files directory. Select Google/GoogleEarth.exe and click OK.
In Mozilla Firefox - you will get a pop-up window that will tell you to either "Open this file" or "Save to Disk". You need to select "Open with" and use the drop down box and select "Other". This will bring you to a browse feature. Point the browser to the Program Files/Google/GoogleEarth.exe file on your computer. Then say OK. Each time you go to this file (i.e. for updates) chose, Open with Google Earth.
To fully view the image, click on the "View" tab on the top toolbar of Google Earth, and set the "Show Time" setting to "Never". The image will show locations of individual polar bears and lines connecting successive locations. Each polar bear is represented by a different colored symbol and line. You can zoom in on any part of the image to see the quality and date of each location. Click on a location for information on identification of the polar bear, time since the previous location, and distance moved from the previous location. On the left side of the screen is a listing of all collar ID numbers and the date of the last location. The image was created using the Douglas Argos-Filter Algorithm v7.03
 |
Polar Bear Interactive Movements (check back soon) - tags being deployed currently, movements will be monitored again soon |
|
