Whales spied from space

WHALES are being tracked from space by satellite.

Using images taken from 619km above the Earth, scientists from the British Antarctic Survey have begun plotting the migratory patterns of four different species, hoping to better understand them.

So far they have tracked humpbacks off Hawaii, and fin whales in the Mediterranean’s Pelagos Sanctuary. A study, published in journal Marine Mammal Science, has shown the satellites are now so advanced they can even pick out flippers and tail tips. Lead author Hannah Cubaynes, of Cambridge University, said using such cost-effective monitoring methods could advance conservation efforts.