Pacific Orcinus Distribution Surveys (PODS)

The goal of the PODS research project is to study the winter/spring distribution and behaviors of southern resident killer whales in 'outer coastal' waters off Washington, Oregon and California. This vessel based survey is conducted from NOAA's 225 ft research vessel the MacArthur II. Bio-Waves assisted in the design and development of the PODS towed array system. We also provide personnel to operate the passive acoustic monitoring equipment (e.g. towed arrays and sonobuoys) used for detecting killer whales during daytime line-transect surveys, and at night when visual survey methods are not possible. The use of passive acoustic methods resulted in many of the detections of killer whales made during these cruises. We are developing techniques to allow instantaneous localization of killer whales and passive tracking of their movements using a dual hydrophone array system. The next PODS survey is planned for spring 2011.