Antarctic Seals: Unlocking Ocean Secrets from Below

Behavioral ecologists Ms. Cheon and Hyunjae Chung are tagging Weddell seals on the sea ice around Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier. Pocket-sized devices attached to the seals will record their movements and water conditions, transmitting data via satellite. This ongoing expedition aims to understand how a warming ocean influences the seals' diving and foraging habits.

The data collected by the seals is vital for understanding Antarctic ocean physics during winter, a period when sea ice makes research vessels unusable. Weddell seals can dive to approximately 1,000 meters, gathering measurements at depths researchers would struggle to reach. This information has transitioned from being a novelty to a critical data source in oceanography.

The tagging process is meticulous and involves sedating the seals. Researchers approach them carefully, administer a sedative, and then attach a tag to the animal's head using super-glue. Strict protocols are in place to ensure the safety of both the scientists and the seals, including not tagging vulnerable individuals and monitoring their recovery. Despite risks, such as a past incident where a seal bit a guide, the proximity to these mammals offers researchers a unique mammalian kinship experience in the icy Antarctic landscape.