INFRARED SENSING OF THE UNDER‐SNOW LAIRS OF THE RINGED SEAL

• Published in: Marine Mammal Science
• Main Authors: Kingsley, Michael C. S., Hammill, Michael O., Kelly, Brendan P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1990
• Subjects: Phoca hispida; ringed seal
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1990.tb00363.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1748-7692.1990.tb00363.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1990.tb00363.x

A bstract Airborne sensing of emitted infrared (IR) was tested as a means of detecting under‐snow lairs of the ringed seal ( Phoca hispida ) in study areas in Resolute Passage, N.W.T. Lairs and regularly used large breathing holes could in some cases be detected by emitted IR from altitudes of up to 180 m. Lairs were more easily detected if they had thin roofs, and detectability was higher before sunrise, and under conditions of low wind, low ambient temperature and high cloud cover.