How scientists discovered 7,000 humpback whale deaths using AI technology: Study
The intersection of marine biology and artificial intelligence technology has led to a startling humpback whale population discovery.
Approximately 7,000 humpback whales in the North Pacific Ocean died between 2012 and 2021 after the damaging effects of a yearslong marine heatwave, according to a study published Wednesday by Royal Society Open Science. It represented a 20% decline during this period.
The marine heatwave began in 2013 and lasted until 2021, steeply raising water temperatures and decreasing ocean productivity worldwide.
In the North Pacific, the study found the humpback whale population dwindled from 33,500 in 2012 to 26,500 by 2021.
View of the tail of a Humpback whale at the Gerlache Strait in Antarctica, Jan. 19, 2024.
Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images
The massive, international study gathered data and images from 46 organizations and 4,292 community science contributors and used AI technology to match and identify humpback whales around the