RADAR IMAGERY IN THE STUDY OF ICE-COVER CHANGES AND HARP SEAL MIGRATION IN THE WHITE SEA

An international team of researchers describes applications of radar imagery from the ERS-2 satellite in ice-cover monitoring in regions of whelping of the harp seal in the White Sea (February-March 1997). Among parameters relevant to the ecology of the harp seal that can be determined more effectively with radar imagery are ice age and continuity, position and condition of shore-ice edge, and direction of drift of ice fields. Examples of practical use of such imagery in regions of reproduction and migration of sea mammals are presented and comparisons with aerial imagery in visible and infrared wavelengths are made.