Previously, a group of researchers managed to take a unique look at the largest swarm of jellyfish discovered. Using a drone in British Columbia, the team uncovered an estimated 70 tons of jellyfish numbering close to 15,000. A similar endeavor in Boulder, Colorado made use of drones for whale research. Using the drone, the researchers hoped to decode whale language as well as monitor their movement.
Yes, it really does seem that drones are becoming more and more linked with scientific research. After all, a high definition camera strapped to a flying device can make visibility a cinch. A drone can have the same visibility as a helicopter, minus the loud noise, the lighter mobility, and at a fraction of the price. This is truly a golden age for research with the help of affordable drones.
Antartica and the Penguin Super Colony:
We come to another scientific research calling for drone support. In the white frosts of Antarctica, scientists are trying to study the penguin population. The local colonies of the Adélie penguins have been on their radar for some time. But of course, expeditions at the arctic regions come with major obstacles. The harsh weather conditions for one make it impossibly difficult for people to spend long durations outside. Winds make travel complicated, and at times it is impossible to travel altogether. Here is where drones come in the picture.
The research team at the Arctic used a drone to get a clearer, bird’s eye view of the area. Lo and behold they spot what may be the largest colony of penguins in the entire continent. The “super colony” as it is called, contained an estimated over 750,000 breeding pairs of Adélie penguins. How they counted the penguins and came up with that number, you ask. With the help of drones, of course. With aerial shots taken by drones, they arrived at a close approximation to the penguin colony’s population.
