Antarctic researchers gain insights from on high as they count seals from space

A Weddell seal in Antarctica. Researchers have counted the seals from space to get the most accurate population estimate of the species. Photograph: Michelle A LaRue

Researchers believe they have accurately estimated Antarctica’s Weddell seal population for the first time – using images from space and the eyes of hundreds of thousands of citizen scientists.

Weddell seals are a key indicator species in the Southern Ocean, for both sea ice fluctuations and shifts in the food web. They can live up to 30 years in the harsh conditions of the coastal sea ice of Antarctica, but until recently, counting them has been risky and cost-prohibitive.