Home / Science / Moths on Radar: Sydney Swarms Fool Meteorologists
Moths on Radar: Sydney Swarms Fool Meteorologists
17 Oct
Summary
- Bogong moths are appearing on weather radar systems across eastern New South Wales.
- Scientists are exploring using radar data to track moth migration routes and breeding.
- Similar radar tracking technology is successfully used for flying foxes and birds.
Weather radars across eastern New South Wales are detecting significant bogong moth migrations, leading to confusion with rain. These systems, designed for water particles, are reflecting off large insect swarms, creating echoes that mimic widespread precipitation, particularly around sunrise and sunset. Researchers, like Dr. Kate Umbers, see this radar data as a potential breakthrough for studying moth movements.
This technology offers exciting possibilities for understanding migration routes and breeding locations, areas previously challenging to track. Similar radar applications have already proven effective for monitoring flying fox and bird populations. Professor Justin Welbergen has pioneered using radar to track flying foxes, noting their organized nightly departures.
The 'Aerocast' prototype, developed for flying foxes, shows promise for expanding to track other aerial animals, including bogong moths. This initiative could provide crucial conservation insights by detecting significant ecological events. Despite recent population concerns, the increased visibility of bogong moths highlights their epic scale and serves as a reminder of their ecological importance.
