Too hot in the Northern Hemisphere? Feeling guilty that you are inside with the AC? Dreaming of colder climates. Have no fear – you can do some Antarctic Science. You can count penguins from your own computer. I’ll admit – I’ve just spent that last half an hour counting them!
Counting penguins has been a challenge through the years of Antarctic science given the limitations of climate, light, ice, and the ability (and expense) to get to sites. Until recently counting has been done using those little metal clickers and walking around colonies to get counts. This is still being done, as ground truthing is the best, however numerous other methods are being tried.
Many people are working on different methods and collaborating!
Last year we had Casey Youngflesh, of Stony brook University who works with Heather Lynch and her lab. They collaborate with Oceanites. In addition to counting on the ground they have started testing drones as well as using satellite imagery to count penguins.
Tom Hart at Oxford is trying a different approach – cameras and crowd sourcing. He needs people like me, you, anyone to go to this website and click and count penguins.
Check it out here! You can do your part for penguin science.
And if you feel like seeing them for real – join us Dec 15 2016 – Jan 8 2017!
Or have question about our trips? Feel free to ask us some questions