Tracking Seals to Unlock Antarctic Ocean Secrets

Scientists from Seoul National University are using tiny tags on Weddell seals to learn how a warming ocean is changing life beneath Antarctica’s ice. They first capture the seals on sea‑ice near Thwaites Glacier by carefully approaching from behind and gently darting a sedative into the animal’s flank. After the seal calms, researchers attach a small device to its head that records depth, speed and water temperature while the seal swims. When the seal surfaces, the tag sends the data to satellites for scientists to analyze.The study aims to see how rising water temperatures affect seal diving and hunting patterns. Warmer waters melt the glacier from below, but they also stir up iron and nutrients that feed fish. These fish become food for the seals, linking ocean chemistry to seal behavior. Similar shifts may be happening around icebergs that are also melting. Although Weddell seals are not endangered, understanding their response to rapid environmental change is crucial. The research could reveal how future warming will impact the entire Antarctic food web.