GPS for the oceans
A system based on sound waves could transform marine biology
ZOOLOGISTS ROUTINELY track animals, from albatross to zebra, using global-positioning-system (GPS) tags which then return their data via satellite. Marine biologists have a harder time of it, though, because seawater is infuriatingly opaque to radio signals. This makes it impossible either to receive GPS signals or to transmit any data collected back to base.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Now hear this”
From the April 30th 2022 edition
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