Satellite Tracology and Marine Mammal Conservation

Professor V. F. Krapivin, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, was one of the long-standing co-authors of Academician K. Ya. Kondratyev. With him and I. I. Potapov, Dr Startsev published six papers: on global crises and technologies for overcoming them, microwave diagnostics of forest and peat fires, GIMS based on fibre-optic equipment, a simulation model for diagnosing the ecosystems of the Arctic basin, a method of integrated environmental studies for supervisory functions, and remote monitoring of forest ecosystems (“Ecological Systems and Devices”, “Environmental Economics”).

Dr Startsev's papers on applying GIMS: to problems of environmental safety (2011) and to mitigating the consequences of natural and man-made emergencies (2013, including a two-part article in the journal “Labour and Social Relations”, full text).

A presentation on diagnosing and forecasting climate and hydrological emergencies with GIMS for the ArmCTCN project (climate technology transfer, Armenia).

The article “Satellite Tracology: Experience of Use in Mammalogy (Theriology) for the Safety of Ice-Associated Marine Mammals” (V. V. Melentyev, V. I. Chernook, K. V. Melentyev, A. A. Startsev, T. A. Zakharova) appeared in the “Izvestiya TINRO” (2014, vol. 179, pp. 138–157).

Trace analysis (tracology) is the branch of forensic science that studies traces. The authors apply it to the “traces” in the ice visible on satellite and airborne radar images, which show the places suitable for haul-outs and whelping. The species studied are the Pacific walrus (the effect of wind and tidal currents on its behaviour, airborne survey data near Anadyr), the Ladoga and Baltic ringed seals and the grey seal.

The work was carried out in cooperation with TINRO and ChukotNIRO.