Researchers are conducting a study to improve the detection of polar bear dens in the Arctic.
The dens, which are carefully hidden under the snow, are quite difficult to locate.
The specialists aim to protect mother polar bears and their cubs by enhancing the tools used to find the dens.
More about the research
A pilot study utilized an imaging system called ARTEMIS Inc., which uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
The experiment discovered that SAR increased den detection by over 20%, compared to the existing method of using Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) system from aerial surveys.
The SAR system has the capability to penetrate snow and detect the top surface of the snow, the den roof, and the inside of the den cavity.
The team is working on developing an operational version that can easily detect polar bears inside their dens by combining radar signatures of live bears and computer modeling.
Unlike FLIR, SAR technology performs well in various weather conditions, making it suitable for Arctic environments.
The specialists believe SAR could be an effective tool for guiding conservation efforts for polar bears.
The experiment has provided an opportunity for undergraduate students to conduct original studies on polar bear detection using radar, a first in this field.
Why it's important
Protecting the polar bear population, especially during denning, is essential as the decline in successful cub rearing has contributed to the decline of the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation.
Conservation efforts should focus on ensuring the safety of mother bears and cubs while addressing other threats like climate change.
