A new story map on MarineCadastre.gov, Predicting Cetacean Density with Geospatial Models, describes how scientists use data collected by NOAA, state agencies, and academic institutions to produce detailed maps of cetacean distributions.  This involved analyzing how sightings of cetaceans relate to environmental conditions such as water temperature and ocean currents to better understand where these animals may be found in areas which had no sightings. This story map translates how the data was modeled in a way managers can understand so they can more easily use this valuable information for ocean planning applications.

Providing scientists and managers with critical information on mammal presence, distribution, and behavior is vital to understand the potential effects of offshore energy activities, mitigate the likelihood of ship strikes, and evaluate acoustic impacts of offshore construction and seismic testing.

For more information, contact Mark.Finkbeiner@noaa.gov.

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