Analysing satellite data for albatross research
Toroa/northern royal albatross spend about 85% of their time on the Southern Ocean – only living on land to nest during the breeding season. Some of their nesting sites are in remote places so the sites can be tricky to reach. Monitoring of albatross populations is crucial to the success of any conservation efforts.
Satellite images of an albatross breeding site
These images from Maxar Technologies and DigitalGlobe help scientists monitor albatross numbers. Albatross spend most of their time at sea but return to breeding sites like this one to nest and raise their chicks. Satellite monitoring is less disruptive for the birds than visiting the sites in person.
Download a PDF of this image.
Satellite images courtesy of MAXAR. Data manipulation from Fretwell, Peter & Scofield, R. & Phillips, Richard. (2017). Using super-high resolution satellite imagery to census threatened albatrosses. Ibis. 159. 10.1111/ibi.12482.
This activity uses actual data from a Chatham Islands monitoring site gathered from a satellite image. It is part of a suite of activities that support the Build a satellite interactive. These activities support students to engage with the science capabilities ‘Gather and interpret data’, ‘Critique evidence’ and ‘Interpret representations’.
Consider doing the activity Interpreting observations from satellite images prior to this activity. It introduces strategies that are useful when interpreting satellite images.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
discuss why scientists monitor species like the toroa/northern royal albatross
discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using satellites to monitor albatross
use satellite images to engage with one or more of the science capabilities.
Albatross satellite mission
The toroa/northern royal albatross is endangered. They nest on the same rocky sea stacks each year in the Southern Ocean near the Chatham Islands. It is hard to access this area, so how do you monitor them? Scientists are using satellite imagery to monitor populations in these hard-to-reach areas.
This animated video is part of the Build a satellite interactive. To find out more about using satellites to track albatross populations, see the article How are satellites helping albatross? then follow up with the activity Analysing satellite data for albatross research.
Download the Word file (see link below).
Related content
Find out more about remote sensing and satellites used for Earth observation.
These citizen science projects focu s on species distribution. Some involve identifying and counting species using images.
Activity ideas
Grow your skill set. Build a satellite and then analyse data regarding dark vessels and slow slip Earth movements.
Useful links
The Royal Albatross Centre has more information on the toroa/northern royal albatross.
The Department of n and Fisheries New Zealand have a tracking app. Visit their website to learn more about the app and to access their tracking data.
If you would like to investigate climatic conditions for the Chatham Islands archipelago, NIWA has information on regional climatologies.
Acknowledgement
This resource has been produced with funding from the Ministry of Business, n and Employment and the support of the New Zealand Space Agency.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the New Zealand Space Agency
The New Zealand Space Agency, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, is the lead government agency for space policy, regulation and sector development.
