i

ABSTRACT

This report describes field activities and data analyses for aerial surveys of bowhead whales conducted

during Fall 1998 (31 August-27 October) and Fall 1999 (31 August-23 October) in the Beaufort Sea,

primarily between 140°W. and 157°W. longitudes south of 72°N. latitude.

During Fall 1998, general ice cover during September and October was the third-mildest open-water season

(1979-1999), with the 5-tenths ice-concentration boundary 240 nm north of Point Barrow in September. The

very high number of sightings of bowhead whales (n=383) as well as the very high number of individual

bowhead whales counted (n=1,045) likely resulted from favorable open-water conditions along with some

potential repeat counting between days of large aggregations of feeding and/or milling whales that appeared

to remain in the same area for several days. A total of 1,045 bowhead whales, 5 gray whales, 306 beluga

whales, 38 bearded seals, 938 ringed seals, 3 Pacific walrus, 20 unidentified pinnipeds, 235 polar bears,

and 26 sets of polar bear tracks were observed during 180.64 hours of survey effort that included 93.79

hours on randomized transects. The initial sighting of bowhead whales in Alaskan waters occurred on 31

August, when 1 bowhead was sighted swimming due west in Survey Block 1. Of all bowhead whales

observed, half (median) had been counted by 22 September. The peak count (mode) of 246 whales also

occurred on 19 September. The last sightings of bowhead whales (n=2) in the primary study area were

made in Block 4 on 26 October in relatively open-water conditions.

During Fall 1999, general ice cover across during September and October was considered light overall, with

high concentrations of ice by mid-October. There were 214 sightings of bowhead whales, for a total of 397

individual whales counted. A total of 397 bowhead whales, 446 beluga whales, 2 gray whales, 1 unidentified

cetacean, 81 bearded seals, 1,325 ringed seals, 10 unidentified pinnipeds, 37 polar bears, and 70 sets of

polar bear tracks were observed during 114.16 hours of survey effort that included 60.15 hours on

randomized transects. The initial sighting of bowhead whales in Alaskan waters occurred on 3 September,

when 13 bowheads were observed headed in various directions in Block 4. Of all bowhead whales

observed, half (median) had been counted by 17 October. The peak count (mode) of 117 whales occurred

on 18 October. The last sightings of bowhead whales (N=17) in the primary study area were made in

western Block 12 on 22 October, as 95-100% new sea ice concentrations were forming over almost all of

the study area.

The axis of the bowhead whale migration in the West Region during Fall 1998 was closer to shore than in

other years. The Tukey HSD test of randomized sightings of bowheads between pairs of years showed that

the Fall-1998 migration corridor was significantly nearer to shore in both the East and West Regions of

Alaskan Beaufort Sea than in 1999, a year with no offshore seismic exploration or drilling activity during

September or October. The relatively small median distances from shore and median water depths at

bowhead sightings in Fall 1998 and 1999 in the West Region are consistent with a tendency for bowheads

to migrate closer to shore and in shallower water during years of light general ice cover.
iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Project Management

Cleveland J. Cowles, Ph.D., Supervisor

Stephen D. Treacy, Research Manager

Minerals Management Service (MMS) Project Field Science

Name Position Fall 1998 Fall 1999

Stephen D. Treacy Research Manager Flights 1-21, 40-44 Flights 1-20, 33-36

Donald Hansen Team Leader Flights 22-39 Flights 21-32

Kristopher Nuttall Data Recorder-Observer Flights 1-31 Flights 1-17, 24-36

Beverly Sires Data-Recorder-Observer Flight 32-39 --

Stephen D. Treacy Data-Recorder-Observer Flight 40-44 --

Kyle Monkelien Data-Recorder-Observer -- Flights 18-22

Christy Bohl Data-Recorder-Observer -- Flight 23

Linda Reeves Primary Observer Flights 1-11, 40-44 Flights 4-15

Michael Baffrey Primary Observer Flight 12-31, 40-44 Flights 24-36

Joel Hubbard, Ph.D. Primary Observer Flights 32-39 --

Linda Braund Primary Observer -- Flights 1-3

Charles Monnett, Ph.D. Primary Observer -- Flights 16-23

MMS Technical Support

Stephen D. Treacy Contracting Officer’s Administrative Representative, MMS/Office of

Aircraft Services (OAS) Interagency Agreement 05052

Tom Murrell Data-Collection-System Programmer/Developer

Michael Baffrey 1998 Field Equipment Coordinator

Kyle Monkelien 1999 Field Equipment Coordinator

Report Production

Ian Moore Mapping System (ArcView 3.1A)/Database (Access97) Consultant

Jody Lindemann MMS Manuscript Editor

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Liaison

Brad Smith, NMFS, Anchorage, Alaska

We acknowledge the Department of the Interior, OAS, for making all aircraft arrangements and for

monitoring satellite tracking of survey flights; Alan Foster, Jim Larson, Randy Leypoldt, Eric Moss, and Lars

Nelson (ERA Aviation) for piloting the Twin Otter in 1998; and, Jim Larson, Randy Leypoldt, Mike Mercier,

Eric Moss, and Rick Watson (ERA Aviation) for piloting the Twin Otter in 1999.

We appreciate review comments on this and/or previous project reports by the NMFS, the State of Alaska,

the North Slope Borough (NSB), the Indigenous People's Council for Marine Mammals, the National Ice

Center, and Dr. Steven Swartz, formerly with the Marine Mammal Commission.

The project acknowledges the National Ice Center for providing draft sea-ice-severity rankings and sea-ice

concentrations in ARC/INFO format at www.natice.noaa.gov. We appreciate administrative support

provided by Linda Reeves and Geraldine Taylor. Ann Treacy contributed the cover illustration.
iv

CONTENTS

Page

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................... i

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.............................................................................................................................. iii

I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1

II. METHODS AND MATERIALS .......................................................................................................... 3

A. Study Area................................................................................................................................... 3

B. Equipment................................................................................................................................... 5

C. Aerial-Survey Design ................................................................................................................. 5

D. Survey-Flight Procedures.......................................................................................................... 6

E. Data Entry.................................................................................................................................... 6

F. General Data Analyses ............................................................................................................... 8

G. Analysis of the Bowhead Whale Migration Corridor ............................................................ 10

H. Oceanographic Regions.......................................................................................................... 10

III. FALL 1998 RESULTS ..................................................................................................................... 13

A. Environmental Conditions....................................................................................................... 13

B. Survey Effort............................................................................................................................. 13

C. Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) Observations........................................................... 13

 1. Distribution........................................................................................................................... 13

 2. Migration Timing and Relative Abundance ....................................................................... 29

 3. Habitat Associations............................................................................................................ 32

 4. Behaviors.............................................................................................................................. 32

D. Other Marine Mammal Observations...................................................................................... 32

 1. Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus).................................................................................. 32

 2. Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas).............................................................................. 32

 3. Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus nauticus).................................................................. 32

 4. Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida hispida) ................................................................................... 32

 5. Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) .......................................................................... 38

 6. Unidentified Cetaceans and Pinnipeds.............................................................................. 38

 7. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus marinus) .............................................................................. 38

IV. FALL 1999 RESULTS ..................................................................................................................... 43

A. Environmental Conditions....................................................................................................... 43

B. Survey Effort............................................................................................................................. 43

C. Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) Observations........................................................... 50

 1. Distribution........................................................................................................................... 50

 2. Migration Timing and Relative Abundance ....................................................................... 50

 3. Habitat Associations............................................................................................................ 60

 4. Behaviors.............................................................................................................................. 60

D. Other Marine Mammal Observations...................................................................................... 60

 1. Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus).................................................................................. 60

 2. Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas).............................................................................. 60

 3. Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus nauticus).................................................................. 60

 4. Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida hispida) ................................................................................... 65

 5. Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) .......................................................................... 65

 6. Unidentified Cetaceans and Pinnipeds.............................................................................. 65

 7. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus marinus) .............................................................................. 65
v

V. INTERANNUAL RESULTS (1979-1999)......................................................................................... 69

A. Statistical Analyses of the Bowhead Whale Migration Corridor.......................................... 69

1. Central Tendency Statistics - Distance form Shore ................................................... 69

2. Central Tendency Statistics - Water Depth ................................................................. 69

3. ANOVA - Distance from Shore...................................................................................... 69

4. Tukey HSD Test - Distance from Shore ....................................................................... 69

B. General Ice Cover..................................................................................................................... 78

C. Key Results Summary.............................................................................................................. 78

VI. DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................... 81

A. Management Use of Real-Time Field Information................................................................. 81

B. Management Use of Interannual Monitoring ......................................................................... 81

C. Conclusions.............................................................................................................................. 82

D. Field Coordination and Information Support ........................................................................ 83

VII. LITERATURE CITED ...................................................................................................................... 85

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Fall 1998 Ice Concentration Maps for the Beaufort Sea...................................... 89

Appendix B: Fall 1999 Ice Concentration Maps for the Beaufort Sea ................................... 101

Appendix C: Fall 1998 Bowhead Whale Sighting Data............................................................ 113

Appendix D: Fall 1999 Bowhead Whale Sighting Data............................................................ 125

Appendix E: Glossary of Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Initialisms..................................... 133
vi

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure

Number Title Page

1 Study Area Showing Survey Blocks .............................................................................................. 4

2 East and West Regions and Selected Isobaths ............................................................................ 9

3 Flight Track, 31 August 1998 ...................................................................................................... 18

4 Combined Flight Tracks, 1-15 September 1998 ......................................................................... 19

5 Combined Flight Tracks, 16-30 September 1998 ....................................................................... 20

6 Combined Flight Tracks, 1-15 October 1998 .............................................................................. 21

7 Combined Flight Tracks, 16-27 October 1998 ............................................................................ 22

8 Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 31 August 1998 ................................................................... 23

9 Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 1-15 September 1998 ......................................................... 24

10 Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 16-30 September 1998 ....................................................... 25

11 Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 1-15 October 1998 .............................................................. 26

12 Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 16-27 October 1998 ............................................................ 27

13 Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, Fall 1998.............................................................................. 28

14 Daily Relative Abundance and Sighting Rate of Bowhead Whales,

31 August-27 October 1998 ........................................................................................................ 31

15 Map of Gray Whale Sightings, Fall 1998..................................................................................... 34

16 Map of Beluga Whale Sightings, Fall 1998 ................................................................................. 35

17 Map of Bearded Seal Sightings, Fall 1998 .................................................................................. 36

18 Map of Ringed Seal Sightings, Fall 1998 .................................................................................... 37

19 Map of Pacific Walrus Sightings, Fall 1998................................................................................. 39

20 Map of Polar Bear Sightings, Fall 1998....................................................................................... 40

21 Map of Polar Bear Tracks, Fall 1998........................................................................................... 41

22 Flight Track, 31 August 1999 ...................................................................................................... 45

23 Combined Flight Tracks, 1-15 September 1999 ......................................................................... 46

24 Combined Flight Tracks, 16-30 September 1999 ....................................................................... 47
vii

25 Combined Flight Tracks, 1-15 October 1999 .............................................................................. 48

26 Combined Flight Tracks, 16-23 October 1999 ............................................................................ 49

27 Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 1-15 September 1999 ......................................................... 54

28 Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 16-30 September 1999 ....................................................... 55

29 Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 1-15 October 1999 .............................................................. 56

30 Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 16-23 October 1999 ............................................................ 57

31 Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, Fall 1999.............................................................................. 58

32 Daily Relative Abundance and Sighting Rate of Bowhead Whales,

31 August-23 October 1999 ........................................................................................................ 59

33 Map of Gray Whale Sightings, Fall 1999..................................................................................... 62

34 Map of Beluga Whale Sightings, Fall 1999 ................................................................................. 63

35 Map of Bearded Seal Sightings, Fall 1999 .................................................................................. 64

36 Map of Ringed Seal Sightings, Fall 1999 .................................................................................... 66

37 Map of Polar Bear Sightings, Fall 1999....................................................................................... 67

38 Map of Polar Bear Tracks, Fall 1999........................................................................................... 68

39 Median Distance from Shore at Random Sightings of Bowhead Whales (September-October),

Year and Region, 1982-1999, showing Quartile and Maximum Ranges .................................... 74

40 Median Water Depth at Random Sightings of Bowhead Whales (September-October), by

Year and Region, 1982-1999, showing Quartile and Maximum Ranges .................................... 75

41 Fall Bowhead Whale Sightings on Transect (1998), Showing Mean Distance from a Normalized

Shoreline ..................................................................................................................................... 76

42 Fall Bowhead Whale Sightings on Transect (1999), Showing Mean Distance from a Normalized

Shoreline ..................................................................................................................................... 77
viii

LIST OF TABLES

Table

Number Title Page

1 Operational Definitions of Observed Whale Behaviors ................................................................. 7

2 Aerial-Survey Effort in the Beaufort Sea, 31 August-27 October 1998,

by Survey Flight........................................................................................................................... 14

3 Summary of Marine Mammal Sightings, 31 August-27 October 1998,

by Survey Flight........................................................................................................................... 16

4 Number of Sightings and Total Bowhead Whales Observed per Hour,

31 August-27 October 1998, by Flight Day ................................................................................. 30

5 Semimonthly Summary of Bowhead Whales Observed, by Percent Ice Cover

Present at Sighting Location, Fall 1998....................................................................................... 33

6 Semimonthly Summary of Bowhead Whales Observed, by Behavioral Category,

Fall 1998...................................................................................................................................... 33

7 Aerial-Survey Effort in the Beaufort Sea, 31 August-23 October 1999,

by Survey Flight........................................................................................................................... 44

8 Summary of Marine Mammal Sightings, 31 August-23 October 1999,

by Survey Flight........................................................................................................................... 51

9 Number of Sightings and Total Bowhead Whales Observed per Hour,

31 August-23 October 1999, by Flight Day ................................................................................. 53

10 Semimonthly Summary of Bowhead Whales Observed, by Percent Ice Cover

Present at Sighting Location, Fall 1999....................................................................................... 61

11 Semimonthly Summary of Bowhead Whales Observed, by Behavioral Category,

Fall 1999...................................................................................................................................... 61

12 Central-Tendency Statistics for Distance from Shore to Random Sightings of Bowhead

Whales (September-October), by Year and Region, 1982-1999 ................................................ 70

13 Central-Tendency Statistics for Water Depth at Random Sightings of Bowhead

Whales (September-October), by Year and Region, 1982-1999 ................................................ 72
1

I. INTRODUCTION

In 1953, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) (43 USC 1331-1356) charged the Secretary of

the Interior with the responsibility for administering minerals exploration and development of the OCS. 

The Act empowered the Secretary to formulate regulations so that its provisions might be met. The

OCSLA Amendments of 1978 (43 USC 1802) established a policy for the management of oil and natural

gas in the OCS and for protection of the marine and coastal environments. The amended OCSLA states

that the Secretary of the Interior shall conduct studies in areas or regions of sales to ascertain the

“environmental impacts on the marine and coastal environments of the outer Continental Shelf and the

coastal areas which may be affected by oil and gas development” (43 USC 1346).

Subsequent to the passage of the OCSLA, the Secretary of the Interior designated the Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) as the administrative agency responsible for leasing submerged Federal lands and

the Conservation Division of the U.S. Geological Survey for classification and evaluation of submerged

Federal lands and regulation of exploration and production. In 1982, the Minerals Management Service

(MMS) assumed these responsibilities.

To provide information used in environmental impact statements and environmental assessments under

the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 USC 4321-4347), and to assure protection of marine

mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 USC 1361-1407) and the Endangered

Species Act (ESA) of 1973 (16 USC 1531-1543), BLM funded numerous studies involving acquisition and

analysis of marine mammal and other environmental data.

In June 1978, BLM entered into an ESA Section 7 consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service

(NMFS). The purpose of the consultation was to determine the likely effects of the proposed Beaufort

Sea Oil and Gas Lease Sale on endangered bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) and gray (Eschrichtius

robustus) whales. After reviewing available information on the two species, NMFS determined that

insufficient information existed to conclude whether the proposed Beaufort Sea sale was or was not likely

to jeopardize the continued existence of bowhead and gray whales. In August 1978, NMFS

recommended studies to BLM that would fill the information needs identified during the Section 7

consultation. Subsequent biological opinions for Arctic Region sales—including a regional biological

opinion; a revised opinion relative to the joint Federal/State lease area; and opinions on Sales 71 (issued

in 1982), 87 (issued in 1983), 97 (issued in 1987), and Arctic Region sales (issued in 1988)—

recommended continuing studies of whale distribution and OCS-industry effects on bowhead whales

(USDOC, NOAA, NMFS, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988). The Arctic Region Biological Opinion was used by

NMFS for subsequent sales in the Beaufort Sea (Sale 124 in 1991 and Sale 144 in 1996). These

opinions also requested monitoring of bowhead whale presence during periods when geophysical

exploration and drilling are occurring.

Following several years when drilling was limited to the period 1 November through 31 March (USDOI,

MMS, 1979), a variable 2-month seasonal-drilling restriction on fall exploratory activity in the joint

Federal/State Beaufort Sea sale area was implemented. The period of restriction would vary depending

on bowhead whale presence, and “this determination would require development of a monitoring

program. . ..” (USDOI, MMS, 1982). Subsequently, MMS (Alaska OCS Region) adopted an endangered

whale-monitoring plan that required aerial surveys. The Diapir Field Sale 87 Notice of Sale (NOS) (1984)

states that “Bowhead whales will be monitored by the Government, the lessee, or both to determine their

locations relative to operational sites as they migrate through or adjacent to the sale area” (USDOI, MMS,

1984). Three subsequent lease sales in the Beaufort Sea, Sale 97 (1988), Sale 124 (1991), and Sale

144 (1996), have not included a seasonal drilling restriction. The NOS for each of these sales contains

an Information to Lessees clause that “MMS intends to continue its areawide endangered whale

monitoring program in the Beaufort Sea during exploration activities” (USDOI, MMS, 1988, 1991, 1996). 

The information gathered will provide additional assistance to determine the extent, if any, of adverse

effects on the species.

From 1979 to 1987, the MMS (formerly BLM) funded annual monitoring of endangered whales in arctic

waters under Interagency Agreements with the Naval Ocean Systems Center (NOSC) and through
2

subcontracts to SEACO, Inc. On 15 April 1987, a proposal for MMS scientists to conduct aerial surveys

of endangered whales was approved by the Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management. The

MMS uses agency personnel to perform fieldwork and reporting activities for the Beaufort Sea on an

annual basis. Previous survey reports are available for inspection at the Minerals Management Service,

Alaska OCS Region, Resource Center, 949 East 36th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4363.

The present goals of the ongoing program for monitoring endangered whales are to:

1. Provide real-time data to MMS and NMFS on the general progress of the fall migration of bowhead

whales across the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, for use in implementing overall limitations on seasonal

drilling and geological/geophysical exploration;

2. Monitor temporal and spatial trends in the distribution, relative abundance, habitat, and behaviors

(e.g., feeding) of endangered whales in arctic waters;

3. Define the axis of the fall bowhead migration and analyze for significant interyear differences and

long-term trends in the distance from shore and water depth at which whales migrate;

4. Provide an objective wide-area context for management interpretation of the overall fall migration of

bowhead whales and site-specific study results;

5. Monitor behaviors, swim directions, dive times, surfacing patterns, and tracklines of selected bowhead

whales;

6. Record and map beluga whale distribution and incidental sightings of other marine mammals; and

7. Determine seasonal distribution of endangered whales in other planning areas of interest to MMS.
3

II. METHODS AND MATERIALS

A. Study Area

The annual survey program has been based on a design of random field transects within established

geographic blocks overlapping or near Chukchi and Beaufort Sea sale areas offshore of Alaska. The

present study, which was focused on the fall bowhead whale migrations during 1998 and 1999, included

Beaufort Sea Survey Blocks 1 through 12 (Fig. 1) between 140°W. and 157°W. longitude south of 72°N.

latitude.

A large-scale Beaufort Gyre moves waters clockwise from the Canadian Basin westward in the deeper

offshore regions. Nearshore surface currents tend to follow local wind patterns and bathymetry, moving

from the east in winter, with an onshore component, and to the west in summer, with an offshore

component (Brower et al., 1988). There is recent evidence for the existence of two regimes or climate

states for arctic atmospheric-ice-ocean circulation. Based on analysis of modeled sea level and ice

motion, wind-driven motion in the Arctic was found to alternate between anticyclonic and cyclonic

circulation, with each regime persisting for 5-7 years (Proshutinsky and Johnson, 1997; Johnson et al.,

1999).

In the Beaufort Sea, landfast ice forms during the fall and may eventually extend up to 50 kilometers (km)

offshore by the end of winter (Norton and Weller, 1984). The pack ice, which includes multiyear ice

averaging 4 meters (m) in thickness, with pressure ridges up to 50 m thick (Norton and Weller, 1984),

becomes contiguous with the new and fast ice in late fall—effectively closing off the migration corridor to

westbound bowhead whales. From early November to mid-May, the Beaufort Sea normally remains

almost totally covered by ice considered too thick for whales to penetrate. In mid-May, a recurring flaw

lead can form just seaward of the stable fast ice, followed by decreasing ice concentrations (LaBelle et

al., 1983) and large areas of open water in summer.

Local weather patterns affect the frequency and effectiveness of all marine aerial surveys. The present

study area is in the arctic climate zone, with mean temperatures at the Alaskan Beaufort Sea coast

communities of Barrow, Lonely, Oliktok, and Barter Island from -0.9°C to -0.1°C during September and

from -9.7°C to -8.5°C during October. Precipitation in these communities occurred an average of 10 to

34 percent of the time during September (snow with some rain) and 13 to 43 percent during October

(almost all snow), with the heaviest precipitation at Barrow and Barter Island during both months. Fog

(without precipitation) reduces visibility approximately 11 to 19 percent of the time during September and

6 to 8 percent of the time during October. Mean windspeed in the same communities is from 5 to 6 m

per second during September and 5 to 7 m per second during October (Brower et al., 1988).

Sea state is another environmental factor affecting visibility during aerial surveys. Surface waters in the

Beaufort Sea are driven primarily by wind. Ocean waves are generally from northerly or easterly

directions during September and October, during which time the ice pack continues to limit fetch. 

Because of the pack ice, significant wave heights are reduced by a factor of 4 from heights that would

otherwise be expected during the open-water season. Wave heights greater than 0.5 m occurred in 23.9

to 38.9 percent of observations during September and 14.1 to 37.4 percent during October, with the

greater percentage of larger waves (>0.5 m) reported for the eastern third of the study area during both

months. Wave heights greater than 3.5 m are not reported within the study area during September or

October (Brower, 1988).

The study area contains sufficient zooplankton to support some feeding by bowhead whales. The

availability of zooplankton during the fall would be expected to vary between years, geographic locations,

and water depths in response to ambient oceanographic conditions. In September 1985 and 1986,

average zooplankton biomass in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea east of 144°W. longitude was highest south of

the 50-m isobath in subsurface water (LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc., 1987).
4

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Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 1. Study Area Showing Survey Blocks
5

B. Equipment

The survey aircraft was a de Havilland Twin Otter Series 300 (call sign: N321EA). The aircraft was equipped

with two medium-size bubble windows behind the cabin bulkhead and one on the aft starboard side that

afforded complete trackline viewing. The pilot and copilot seats provided good forward and side viewing. 

Each observer was issued a hand-held clinometer (Suunto) for measuring the angle of inclination to the

sighting location of endangered whales. Observers and pilots were linked to common communication

systems, and commentary could be recorded. The aircraft's maximum time aloft under normal survey load

was extended to approximately 8 hours (hr) through the use of a supplemental onboard fuel tank.

A portable Gateway Solo 5100 SE laptop computing system was used aboard the aircraft to store and analyze

flight and observational data. The computer system was connected to a local Garmin III Global Positioning

System (GPS) with external aircraft antenna. Latitude, longitude, and flight altitude from the GPS were

transmitted to the computer through a standard serial connection. A custom moving-map program developed

by MMS project personnel in Visual Basic permitted surveyors to view the aircraft’s trackline in real time.

Onboard safety equipment included an impact-triggered emergency locator transmitter installed in the aircraft,

a 6-person Switlik Search and Rescue Life Raft equipped with a portable Personal Locator Beacon and

desalination pump, a portable ICOM A3 Sport aircraft-band transceiver, an emergency Magellan 3000 GPS,

White dry suits, and emergency flight helmets.

In 1998-99, we used SkyCell satellite flight-following technology for tracking the project aircraft over the

Alaskan Beaufort Sea. The OAS obtained current flight information in the form of a map for visual tracking of

the survey aircraft. Near the northwestern limit of the satellite coverage area (approx. 156°W. longitude), an

aircraft-band very-high-frequency radio was used to transmit periodic position data to Barrow Flight Service. 

In addition to satellite flight following, the onboard transponder was set at a discrete identification code for

radar tracking by air-traffic-control personnel.

C. Aerial-Survey Design

Aerial surveys were based out of Deadhorse, Alaska, from 31 August through 27 October during 1998 and

from 31 August through 23 October during 1999. Field schedules were designed to monitor the progress of

fall bowhead migrations across the Alaskan Beaufort Sea. All bowhead (and beluga) whales observed were

recorded, along with incidental sightings of other marine mammals. Particular emphasis was placed on

regional surveys to assess large-area shifts in the migration pathway of bowhead whales and on the

coordination of effort and management of data necessary to support seasonal offshore-drilling and seismicexploration regulations.

Daily flight patterns were based on sets of unique transect grids computer-generated for each survey block. 

Transect grids were derived by dividing each survey block into sections 30 minutes of longitude across. One

of the minute marks along the northern edge of each section was selected at random then connected by a

straight line to a similarly selected endpoint along the southern edge of that same section. This procedure

was followed for all sections of that survey block. These transect legs were then connected alternately at their

northernmost or southernmost ends to produce one continuous flight grid within each survey block. The use

of random-transect grids is a requirement for subsequent analyses of the bowhead migration corridor based

on line-transect theory (Cochran, 1963).

The selection of the survey blocks to be flown on a given day was nonrandom, based primarily on criteria such

as reported or observed weather conditions over the study area and the level of offshore oil industry activity in

various areas. Weather permitting, the project attempted to distribute effort fairly evenly east-to-west across

the entire study area. It also used a semimonthly flight-hour goal for each survey block allocated

proportionately for survey blocks east of 154°W. longitude and semimonthly time periods based on relative

abundance of bowhead whales as determined from earlier fall migrations (1979-1986). Such allocations,
6

detailed in our Project Management Plans (USDOI, MMS, 1998 and 1999), greatly favor survey coverage in

inshore Survey Blocks 1 through 7 and 11 (Fig. 1), since bowheads were rarely sighted north of these blocks

in previous surveys. The purpose of these survey-effort allocations was to increase the sample size (n) of

whale sightings within the primary migration corridor, thus increasing the power of statistical analysis within

these inshore blocks. Only data from random-transect legs were used to analyze the migration axis, using a

line-transect model.

D. Survey-Flight Procedures

During a typical flight, a “search” leg was flown to the target survey block, beginning a series of

random-transect legs (above) joined together by “connect” legs, followed by a search leg back to Deadhorse. 

Surveys generally were flown at a target altitude of 458 m. Weather permitting, this altitude was maintained in

order to maximize visibility and to minimize potential disturbance to marine mammals. Flights were normally

aborted when cloud ceilings were consistently less than 305 m or the wind force was consistently above

Beaufort 4.

Port observers included a Primary Observer, whose field of vision through a bubble window included the

trackline directly below the aircraft to the horizon, the Pilot, and an occasional secondary observer-visitor,

stationed aft at a flat window. Starboard observers included a Data Recorder-Observer, whose field of vision

through a bubble window was particularly focused on guarding the trackline, as well as a Team Leader and a

second Pilot, who were alternately stationed at an aft bubble window and the copilot’s seat. A clinometer was

used to measure the angle of inclination to each sighting of endangered whales when the initial sighting

location was abeam of the aircraft.

When bowheads were encountered while surveying a transect line, the aircraft sometimes diverted from

transect for brief (<10-minute) periods and circled the whales to observe behavior, obtain better estimates of

their numbers, and determine whether calves were present. Any new sightings of whales made while circling

were not counted as “on transect.” Likewise, sightings made while en route to transect grids were counted as

“on search”.

E. Data Entry

A customized computer data-entry form developed by MMS project personnel was used to record all data in

database format (Access 97). A multi-columnar data table permitted several entries of sighting and positionupdate data to be logged and edited simultaneously. The data-entry form is menu-driven, facilitating entry of a

complete data sequence for sightings of whales. These data included date, time, latitude, longitude, altitude,

aircraft heading, reason for entry, species, total number, observer, swim direction (magnetic), clinometer

angle, calf number, behavior, sighting cue, predominant size, habitat, swim speed, repeat sighting, and

response to aircraft. Reduced data sequences were used when recording other marine mammals. 

Position-update data on sky conditions, visual impediments, visibility left and right, percent ice coverage, ice

type, and wind force were entered at sightings, turning points, when changes in environmental conditions were

observed, and otherwise within 10-minute intervals. Entries were simultaneously printed out in hard copy.

The behavior, swim speed, and swim direction for observed whales represent what the pod as a whole was

doing at the time it was first sighted. Behaviors were entered into one of 15 categories as noted on previous

surveys. These categories—breaching, cow-calf association, diving, feeding, flipper-slapping, log playing,

mating, milling, resting, rolling, spy-hopping, swimming, tail-slapping, thrashing, and underwater blowing—are

defined in Table 1. Swimming speed was subjectively estimated by observing the time it took a whale to swim

one body length. An observed swimming rate of one body length per minute corresponded to an estimated

speed of 1 km/hr. One body length per 30 seconds was estimated at 2 km/hr, and so on. Swimming speed

was recorded by relative category (i.e., still, 0 km/hr; slow, 0-2 km/hr; medium, 2-4 km/hr; or fast, >4 km/hr). 

Likewise, whale size was estimated relatively as calf (length less than half of accompanying adult), immature,

adult, or large adult. Swim direction was initially recorded in magnetic degrees, using the aircraft's compass.
7

Table 1

Operational Definitions of Observed Whale Behaviors

Behavior Definition

Breaching Whale(s) launching upwards such that half to nearly all of the body is above the surface

before falling back into the water, usually on its side, creating an obvious splash.

Cow-Calf Calf nursing; cow-calf pairs swimming within 20 m of each other.

Diving Whale(s) changing swim direction or body orientation relative to the water surface,

resulting in submergence; may or may not include lifting the tail out of the water.

Feeding Whale(s) diving repeatedly in a fixed general area, sometimes with mud streaming from

the mouth and/or defecation observed upon surfacing. Feeding behavior is further

defined as synchronous diving and surfacing or echelon-formations at the surface with

swaths of clearer water behind the whale(s), or as surface swimming with mouth agape

FlipperSlappingWhale(s) floating on side, striking the water surface with pectoral flipper one or many

times; usually seen within groups or when the slapping whale is touching another whale.

Log-Playing Whale(s) milling or thrashing about in association with a floating log.

Mating Ventral-ventral orienting of two whales, often with one or more other whales present to

stabilize the mating pair. Mating is often seen within a group of milling whales. Pairs may

appear to hold each other with their pectoral flippers and may entwine their tails.

Milling Whale(s) swimming slowly at the surface in close proximity (within 100 m) to other

whales, often with varying headings.

Resting Whale(s) floating at the surface with head, or head and back exposed, showing no

movement; more commonly observed in heavy-ice conditions than in open water.

Rolling Whale(s) rotating on the longitudinal axis, sometimes associated with mating.

Spy-Hopping Whale(s) extending head vertically out of the water such that up to one-third of the body,

including the eye, is above the surface.

Swimming Whale(s) proceeding forward through the water propelled by tail pushes.

Tail-Slapping Whale(s) floating horizontally or head-downward in the water, waving tail back and forth

above the water and striking the water surface; usually seen in group situations.

Thrashing Whale(s) exhibiting rapid flexure or gyration in the water.

UnderwaterBlowingWhale(s) exhaling while submerged, thus creating a visible bubble.
8

Wind force was recorded according to the Beaufort scale outlined in Piloting, Seamanship, and Small Boat

Handling (Chapman, 1971). Ice type was identified using terminology presented in Naval Hydrographic Office

Publication Number 609 (USDOD, Navy, 1956). Average ice cover over 1-2 kilometers lateral distance from

the aircraft was estimated as a single percentage, regardless of ice type.

F. General Data Analyses

Preliminary field data analysis was performed by a computer program—developed by MMS project

personnel—that provided daily summations of marine mammals observed, plus calculation of time and

distance on transect legs, connect legs, and general search portions of the flight. The analysis program

provided options for editing the data file, calculating summary values, and printing various flight synopses.

Tables showing the number of survey hours flown for individual days, half-months, months, or survey blocks

were subject to decimal-rounding errors and may or may not add up to the grand total shown for the entire

field season. For greatest accuracy and consistency, the total survey hours shown in tables was calculated

separately from the cumulative total minutes flown over the entire field season.

An index of relative abundance was derived as whales per unit effort (WPUE = number of whales counted/hr

of survey effort. The timing of the 1998 and 1999 bowhead migrations through the study area was analyzed

as sightings per unit effort (SPUE = number of sightings counted/hr of survey effort) and WPUE per date. 

Because chance sightings of a few large groups of whales in a short period of time might produce artificially

high WPUE values in certain blocks, values based on at least 4.00 hr of survey effort were distinguished when

discussing relative abundance between areas.

The water depth at each bowhead sighting in the 1982-1999 database was derived from the International

Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IPCAO) containing grid cells 2.5 km square (website

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/bathymetry/arctic/arctic.html. Selected isobaths (10 m, 20 m, 30 m, 40 m, 50

m, 60 m, 100 m, 500 m, 1,000 m, 1,500 m, 2,000 m, 2,500 m, 3,000 m, and 3,500 m), also derived from

IPCAO data, were included in Figure 2 for visual reference.

The maps in this report were prepared with application software (ArcView 3.1A) based on Universal

Transverse Mercator Zone 6 (central meridian =147°W. longitude, reference latitude 0.00000, false easting

500000.00000, false northing 0.00000, spheroid = GRS 80, scale factor = 0.99960). The natural coastline was

adopted from the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources.

Sea-ice concentrations were derived from the Beaufort Sea Ice Analysis provided by the National Ice Center in

Suitland, Maryland. The Beaufort Sea Ice Analysis shows average ice concentrations over the prior 2- to 3-

day period based on visual, infrared, and synthetic-aperture-radar satellite imagery combined with

reconnaissance, ship, and shore observations, including sea-ice observations made by the project. Polygons

of ice concentrations in the Beaufort Sea bracketing the field seasons were downloaded from the National Ice

Center Internet web site for the western Arctic (http://www.natice. noaa.gov) and imported into ArcView. Total

sea-ice concentrations, regardless of ice type, were edited from these polygons and specially coded to

distinguish 0-percent, 1- to 19-percent, 20- to 39-percent, 40- to 59-percent, 60- to 79-percent, 80- to 94-

percent, or 95- to 100-percent ice cover.

Survey effort and observed bowhead distribution were plotted semimonthly over the Beaufort Sea study area. 

Overall fall sightings of beluga whales, as well as incidental sightings of other marine mammals, were depicted

on separate maps. Common and scientific names used for marine mammals in this report are taken from

Rice (1998).

Overall, whale sightings were shown on distribution maps and entered into relative-abundance analyses,

regardless of the type of survey leg (transect, search, or connect) being conducted or the prevailing

environmental conditions (sea state, ice cover, etc.) when the sightings were made. As with previous reports
9

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Normalized ShorelineAnalysis RegionsBathymetric Contours

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Figure 2. East and West Regions (used in water-depth analyses) and Selected Isobaths
10

in this series (Treacy, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998), same-day

repeat sightings or sightings of dead marine mammals were not included in summary analyses or maps. 

Where tables and figures exclude certain data, such exclusions are indicated in the captions.

G. Analysis of the Bowhead Whale Migration Corridor

The corridor used by bowhead whales during their fall migration was analyzed both by the mean distance

from shore to whales sighted on randomized transects as well as mean water depth at random whale

sightings. The analyses presented here were completed using StatisticaTM StatSoft, Version 5.1 and ArcView

3.1A. The mean distance from shore at bowhead sightings between years were compared employing

parametric analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey “honestly significant difference” (HSD) tests. The

ANOVA tests the hypothesis that distances from shore are the same among years. The Tukey HSD test is a

multiple comparison procedure that provides statistical comparison of means for any pair of years (Zar,

1984).

An analysis protocol specifying the use of median water depth to detect interannual shifts in the bowhead

migration route was initially described in Chapters 4.2.3 and 5.3.3 of “Beaufort Sea Monitoring Program

Workshop Synthesis and Sampling Design Recommendations” (Houghton, Segar, and Zeh, 1984). Because

of the bathymetry of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, a seaward displacement of the fall-migration route would be

represented, via this analysis, as a shift to deeper water and a greater median depth.

Comparing the distance from shore to migrating bowhead whales is another method for detecting shifts in

their migratory corridor. Distance from shore is of particular interest to North Slope residents who rely on a

successful harvest of whales for subsistence purposes. Subsistence whalers generally agree that the farther

offshore whales migrate, the riskier whales are to hunt and the more likely carcasses will spoil before

reaching the villages (USDOI, MMS, 1997).

The present analyses provide biological information needed to test the following null hypotheses

recommended by the above workshop:

Ho1: The axis of the fall migration of bowhead whales will not be altered during periods of increased

OCS oil and gas development activities in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea.

Ho2: Changes in bowhead migration patterns are not related to OCS oil and gas development activity.

To determine the usefulness of these analyses for detecting differences in distance from shore between

years, a preliminary power analysis was performed (Treacy, 1998).

H. Oceanographic Regions

To define the migration axis, a separate file was created for bowhead whale sightings made while on random

transects, regardless of distance from the transect line. Distance from shore and water depth at bowhead

whale sightings made during random transect aerial surveys in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea were analyzed for

two regions (Fig. 2), the boundaries of which correspond roughly to oceanographic patterns and the offshoreextent of sampling.

Oceanographic patterns common to waters offshore northern Alaska are reviewed in Moore and DeMaster

(1997). In brief, cold saline Bering Sea water and warm fresh Alaskan coastal water enter the Alaskan

Beaufort Sea through Barrow Canyon. Both water masses are identifiable on the outer shelf (seaward of 50

m) as the eastward flowing Beaufort undercurrent (Aagaard 1984). Bering Sea water has been traced at

least as far east as Barter Island (~143°W.), but the Alaskan coastal water mixes with ambient surface

waters as it moves eastward and is not clearly identifiable east of Prudhoe Bay (~147-148°W.). Therefore,

the delineation between West-East regions for this analysis occurs at 148°W., based upon association with

general patterns for these water masses.
11

The northern extent of each region is based upon survey effort. For example, the East Region extends from

140°W. to 148°W. and from the shore north to 71°10’ N., except between 146°W. and 148°W. where the

region extends to 71°20’N. The northern boundary for this region corresponds with boundaries of survey

blocks 6, 7 and 2 (Fig. 1): blocks with sufficient survey effort to support analyses (Treacy 1997: Table 11). 

The West Region extends from 148°W. to 156°W. and from the shore north to 72°N., except between

148°W. and 150°W. where the region extends to 71°20’N. due to the layout of Block 2. The eastern

boundary (140°W.) is simply the easternmost longitude of the survey blocks. The western cutoff at 156°W.

limits the analysis to bowheads seen in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea and avoids the influence of Barrow Canyon

on bowhead depth distribution.

The shoreline used for this analysis was ‘normalized’ from the actual Beaufort Sea shoreline to provide a

standardization of distance-from-shore measures regardless of the mapping software being used to depict

the distribution data. The ‘normalized’ shoreline was derived by connecting, with straight lines, eleven points

at various shoreline or barrier islands locations across Alaska’s North Slope between 156°W. and 140°W.

(Fig. 2). The points used to ‘normalize’ the shoreline are as follows:

71.317°N., 156.000°W.

70.883°N., 153.900°W.

70.917°N., 153.115°W.

70.817°N., 152.200°W.

70.430°N., 151.000°W.

70.550°N., 150.167°W.

70.450°N., 147.950°W.

69.967°N., 144.700°W.

70.150°N., 143.250°W.

69.650°N., 141.000°W.

69.617°N., 140.000°W.
13

III. FALL 1998 RESULTS

A. Environmental Conditions

General ice coverage in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea (Appendix A) was extremely light during most of the Fall

1998. Light shorefast ice concentrations (20-39%) first appeared by 2 October near Kaktovik. A strip of

nearshore ice progressed from light to very heavy (80-94%) concentrations between Kaktovik and Barrow by

mid-October. By 23 October, light nearshore ice concentrations (20-39%) extended east into Canada and

near-solid (>94%) sea ice had begun to occupy the northeast corner of the study area. Ice percentages and

sea states at each sighting of endangered whales are shown in Appendix C (Table C-1).

Environmental conditions permitted 44 flights during Fall 1998. The weather was notably poor (high sea

states and/or low cloud ceilings) from 12 through 21 October, permitting only 4.39 total survey hours during

that time period (Table 2).

B. Survey Effort

Daily totals of kilometers and hours flown per survey flight during 1998 are shown in Table 2. A total of

40,813 km of surveys were flown in 180.64 hours in the study area at an average speed of 225.94 km/hr. 

The average survey flight was 927.57 km, with over-ocean flight distances ranging from 148 km to 1,548 km.

 A total of 21,302 km of random-transect lines were flown in 93.79 hours at an average transect speed of

227.12 km/hr. These random transects constituted 52.19 percent of the total kilometers flown and 51.92

percent of the total flight hours. Survey-flight lines are summarized by semimonthly period in Figures 3

through 7.

On 31 August, survey coverage ranged from 143°W. to 148°W. longitudes, with most of the effort within 30

nautical miles (nm) of shore (Fig. 3). There were 0.57 hours of random transects flown out of 2.12 total flight

hours during this period (Table 2), constituting 0.1 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively, of the total time

spent in those effort categories.

During the first half of September, survey coverage ranged from 140°W. to 157°W. longitudes, with most of

the effort within 70 nm of shore (Fig. 4). There were 27.43 hours of random transects flown out of 50.17 total

flight hours during this period (Table 2), constituting 29.2 percent and 27.8 percent, respectively, of the total

time spent in those effort categories.

During the second half of September, survey coverage ranged from 140°W. to 157°W. longitudes, mostly

within 100 nm of shore (Fig. 5). There were 30.56 hours of random transects flown out of 55.19 total flight

hours during this period (Table 2), constituting 32.6 percent and 30.6 percent, respectively, of the total time

spent in those effort categories.

During the first half of October, survey coverage ranged from 140°W. to 157°W. longitudes, mostly within 70

nm of shore (Fig. 6). There were 26.07 hours of random transects flown out of 48.32 total flight hours during

this period (Table 2), constituting 27.8 percent and 26.7 percent, respectively, of the total time spent in those

effort categories.

From 16 through 27 October, survey coverage ranged from 141°W. to 152°W. longitudes, mostly within 60

nm of shore (Fig. 7). There were 9.16 hours of random transects flown out of 24.84 total flight hours during

this period (Table 2), constituting 9.8 percent and 13.8 percent, respectively, of the total time spent in those

effort categories.

C. Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) Observations

1. Distribution: Three hundred eighty-three sightings were made for a total of 1,045 bowhead whales

observed during Fall-1998 surveys in the study area (Table 3 and Figs. 8-13), not counting definite repeat
Table 2

Aerial-Survey Effort in the Beaufort Sea, 31 August–27 October 1998, by Survey Flight

14

Day

Flight

No.

Transect

(km)

Connect

(km)

Search

(km)

Total

(km)

Transect

(hr)

Total

(hr)

31 Aug 1 126 32 319 477 0.57 2.12

2 Sep 2 0 0 277 277 0.00 1.02

3 Sep 3 256 119 176 550 1.15 2.40

4 Sep 4 523 136 419 1,078 2.28 4.42

7 Sep 5 0 0 220 220 0.00 0.88

9 Sep 6 735 152 484 1,371 3.32 6.27

10 Sep 7 504 35 174 713 1.78 2.72

10 Sep 8 309 107 337 753 1.38 3.13

11 Sep 9 686 138 466 1,289 3.00 5.63

12 Sep 10 436 80 111 627 1.93 2.85

12 Sep 11 500 81 275 856 2.17 3.75

13 Sep 12 748 138 456 1,342 3.33 5.83

14 Sep 13 1,005 193 186 1,385 4.42 6.22

15 Sep 14 599 149 459 1,207 2.67 5.05

16 Sep 15 841 114 246 1,201 3.73 5.37

17 Sep 16 890 195 400 1,485 3.85 6.50

18 Sep 17 812 233 434 1,479 3.48 6.78

19 Sep 18 824 17 680 1,521 3.48 6.75

20 Sep 19 1,041 203 124 1,368 4.48 6.02

21 Sep 20 176 13 176 364 0.75 1.53

22 Sep 21 881 74 338 1,293 3.95 6.17

26 Sep 22 81 16 674 771 0.37 3.80

27 Sep 23 215 77 279 570 0.97 2.57

28 Sep 24 551 123 199 872 2.47 3.90

30 Sep 25 688 191 441 1,320 3.03 5.80

1 Oct 26 511 140 471 1,122 2.23 5.18

2 Oct 27 250 15 120 386 1.08 1.80

2 Oct 28 565 97 52 713 2.48 3.23

4 Oct 29 716 81 278 1,074 3.18 4.77

5 Oct 30 641 133 423 1,197 2.88 5.23

6 Oct 31 24 0 123 148 0.10 0.62

7 Oct 32 243 55 50 347 1.08 1.58

7 Oct 33 184 75 118 377 0.87 1.68

8 Oct 34 472 84 323 879 2.12 3.97

9 Oct 35 621 190 486 1,296 2.82 6.10

10 Oct 36 728 117 456 1,300 3.33 5.87

11 Oct 37 848 144 295 1,288 3.90 5.92

12 Oct 38 0 0 503 503 0.00 2.37

18 Oct 39 0 0 491 491 0.00 2.02

22 Oct 40 752 220 416 1,389 3.32 6.17

23 Oct 41 14 0 489 502 0.07 2.10

25 Oct 42 33 0 567 600 0.12 2.28

26 Oct 43 670 177 417 1,264 3.03 5.67
Table 2

Aerial-Survey Effort in the Beaufort Sea, 31 August–27 October 1998, by Survey Flight

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Day

Flight

No.

Transect

(km)

Connect

(km)

Search

(km)

Total

(km)

Transect

(hr)

Total

(hr)

27 Oct 44 603 96 849 1,548 2.62 6.60

Semimonthly Effort Summary

31 Aug 126 32 319 477 0.57 2.12

1-15 Sep 6,301 1,328 4,040 11,668 27.43 50.17

16-30 Sep 7,000 1,256 3,991 12,244 30.56 55.19

1-15 Oct 5,803 1,131 3,698 10,630 26.07 48.32

16-27 Oct 2,072 493 3,229 5,794 9.16 24.84

TOTAL 21,302 4,240 15,277 40,813 93.79 180.64
Table 3

Summary of Marine Mammal Sightings, 31 August-27 October 1998, by Survey Flight

(number of sightings/number of animals)

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Day

Flight

No.

Bowhead

Whale

Gray

Whale

Beluga

Whale

Unidentified

Cetacean

Bearded

Seal

Ringed

Seal

Pacific

Walrus

Unidentified

Pinniped

31 Aug 1 1/1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

2 Sep 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Sep 3 1/1 0 4/13 0 1/1 0 0 0 4 Sep 4 14/17 0 3/5 0 0 9/52 0 2/2 7 Sep 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Sep 6 7/8 0 4/53 0 1/1 1/3 0 1/5 

10 Sep 7 7/7 0 1/1 0 0 0 0 0 10 Sep 8 4/4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 Sep 9 12/22 0 0 0 0 3/13 0 0 12 Sep 10 3/4 0 0 0 0 1/4 0 0 12 Sep 11 9/18 0 0 0 1/1 0 0 0 13 Sep 12 22/57 0 0 0 2/2 10/81 1/1 0 14 Sep 13 12/13 1/1 1/2 0 1/1 17/163 0 0 15 Sep 14 15/22 0 0 0 5/7 10/244 0 0 16 Sep 15 9/12 0 1/25 0 2/2 5/65 0 0 17 Sep 16 8/10 0 2/42 0 0 1/4 0 0 18 Sep 17 38/56 0 1/1 0 4/5 5/43 0 0 19 Sep 18 16/246 1/1 4/75 0 1/1 2/16 0 0 20 Sep 19 12/18 0 0 0 3/4 8/79 0 0 21 Sep 20 3/4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 Sep 21 8/9 0 0 0 2/2 4/30 0 0 26 Sep 22 1/5 0 0 0 1/1 0 0 0 27 Sep 23 4/4 0 0 0 1/1 0 0 0 28 Sep 24 32/141 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 Sep 25 46/202 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

1 Oct 26 3/4 0 0 0 1/1 0 2/2 0 2 Oct 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Oct 28 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Table 3

Summary of Marine Mammal Sightings, 31 August-27 October 1998, by Survey Flight

(number of sightings/number of animals)

17

Day

Flight

No.

Bowhead

Whale

Gray

Whale

Beluga

Whale

Unidentified

Cetacean

Bearded

Seal

Ringed

Seal

Pacific

Walrus

Unidentified

Pinniped

4 Oct 29 7/9 0 0 0 1/1 0 0 0 5 Oct 30 23/39 0 3/13 0 0 0 0 0 6 Oct 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 Oct 32 1/4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 Oct 33 4/5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 Oct 34 5/7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Oct 35 7/7 0 0 0 3/3 9/56 0 4/5 

10 Oct 36 28/62 0 0 0 1/2 8/9 0 1/6 11 Oct 37 17/22 0 1/75 0 0 4/8 0 1/1 12 Oct 38 0 0 0 0 0 2/19 0 0 18 Oct 39 0 0 0 0 0 2/5 0 0 22 Oct 40 0 0 0 0 1/1 0 0 1/1 23 Oct 41 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 Oct 42 0 0 0 0 0 5/35 0 0 26 Oct 43 2/2 0 0 0 0 1/1 0 0 27 Oct 44 0 0 1/1 0 1/1 5/8 0 0 

Total Semimonthly Sightings

31 Aug 1/1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

1-15 Sep 106/173 1/1 13/74 0 11/13 51/560 1/1 3/7 

16-30 Sep 177/707 2/4 8/143 0 14/16 25/237 0 0 

1-15 Oct 97/162 0 4/88 0 6/7 23/92 2/2 6/12 

16-27 Oct 2/2 0 1/1 0 2/2 13/49 0 1/1 

TOTAL 383/1,045 3/5 26/306 0 33/38 112/938 3/3 10/20 
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Figure 3. Flight Track, 31 August 1998
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Figure 4. Combined Flight Tracks, 1-15 September 1998
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Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey BlocksFlight Lines

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 5. Combined Flight Tracks, 16-30 September 1998
21

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Survey BlocksFlight Lines

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Figure 6. Combined Flight Tracks, 1-15 October 1998
22

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Survey BlocksFlight Lines

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 7. Combined Flight Tracks, 16-27 October 1998
23

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Barrow

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Survey Blocks

Sightings

 Bowhead Whale

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 8. Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 31 August 1998
24

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Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

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0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 9. Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 1-15 September 1998
25

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Barrow

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Survey Blocks

Sightings

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0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 10. Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 16-30 September 1998
26

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Barrow

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Survey Blocks

Sightings

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0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 11. Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 1-15 October 1998
27

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Survey Blocks

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0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 12. Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 16-27 October 1998
28

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Survey Blocks

Sightings

 Bowhead Whale

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 13. Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, Fall 1998
29

sightings or dead whales. The very high number of bowheads was likely a result of favorable open-water

conditions along with some potential recounting of large aggregations of feeding and/or milling whales that

this year appeared to remain in the same area for several days. Relatively even survey coverage between

140°W. and 157°W. longitudes (Figs. 4-7), resulted in distribution of bowhead whales all across the study

area within 40 nm north of the shoreline, with heavier concentrations (unadjusted for effort) between

143°W. and 147°W. and between 151°W. and 156°W. longitudes (Fig. 13). Sixty-two of the 1,044 whales

were identified as calves (Appendix C: Table C-1), resulting in a seasonal calf ratio (number calves/total

whales) of 0.059. A semi-monthly analysis follows.

On 31 August, one sighting was made for a total of one bowhead whale (Table 3 and Figure 8). This first

bowhead observed in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea was sighted at 70°29.9 ́N. latitude, 146°38.5 ́W.

longitude. No calves were observed that day (Appendix C: Table C-1).

During the first half of September, 106 sightings were made for a total of 173 bowheads (Table 3), with

sightings ranging between 140°W. and 157°W. longitudes, based on survey coverage across the study

area (Fig. 4). Whale pods were evenly distributed east to west, mostly within 30 nm north of the shoreline

(Fig. 9). Pod sizes ranged from 1 to 21 whales, with a mean of 1.63 (SD=2.17, n=106). Four bowhead

whale calves were observed during this period (Appendix C: Table C-1).

During the second half of September, 177 sightings were made for a total of 707 bowheads (Table 3), with

sightings between 140°W. and 156°W. longitudes, based on survey coverage across the study area (Fig.

5). Whale pods were distributed evenly east to west, mostly within 30 nm north of the shoreline (Fig. 10). 

Pod sizes ranged from 1 to 78 whales, with a mean of 3.99 (SD=9.47, n=177). Fifty-six bowhead whale

calves were observed during this period (Appendix C: Table C-1).

During the first half of October, 97 sightings were made for a total of 162 bowheads (Table 3), with

sightings between 140°W. and 157° ́W. longitudes, based on survey coverage across the study area (Fig.

6). Whale pods were distributed east to west across the study area, with most pods aggregated between

Barrow and the Colville Delta, within 40 nm north of the shoreline (Fig. 11). Pod sizes ranged from 1 to 21

whales, with a mean of 1.67 (SD=2.23, n=97). Two bowhead whale calves were observed during this

period (Appendix C: Table C-1).

From 16 through 27 October, 2 sightings were made for a total of 2 bowheads (Table 3), with both

sightings just west of 144° ́W. longitude, based on survey coverage between 140°W. and 153°W.

longitudes (Fig. 7). Both whale pods were located just west of Kaktovik, within 20 nm north of the

shoreline (Fig. 12). Pod sizes were each one whale. The last bowhead in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea was

sighted at 70°06.3 ́N. latitude, 144°00.9 ́W. longitude. No bowhead whale calves were observed during

this period (Appendix C: Table C-1).

2. Migration Timing and Relative Abundance: The day-to-day timing of the Fall-1998 bowhead

whale migration was calculated over the entire study area (Table 4 and Fig. 14) as a daily sighting rate, or

sightings per unit effort (SPUE), and an index of relative abundance, or whales per unit effort (WPUE).

Of the 383 sightings of bowhead whale pods, the first whale observed was on 31 August. The data for

daily sighting rates showed a fairly level distribution over the field season, with higher values on 18

September (5.60 SPUE), 28 September (8.21 SPUE), and 30 September (7.93 SPUE). The low values in

Figure 14 after 11 October were due in part to few flights and poor weather conditions from 12-21

October. The last sighting of a bowhead whale was made on 26 October (Table 4 and Fig. 14).

Of the 1,045 individual bowhead whales counted, the data for daily relative abundance show that the

midpoint (median) of the bowhead migration in Blocks 1 through 12 (when 50% of all sighted whales had

been recorded) occurred on 22 September. The peak relative abundance (mode) of 36.44 WPUE

occurred on 19 September (Table 4 and Fig. 14).
30

Table 4

Number of Sightings and Total Bowhead Whales Observed per Hour,

31 August-27 October 1998, by Flight Day

Day

No. of

Sightings

No. of

Whales

Survey

Time (hr)

Sightings/hr

(SPUE)

Whales/hr

(WPUE)

31 Aug 1 1 2.12 0.47 0.47

2 Sep 0 0 1.02 0.00 0.00

3 Sep 1 1 2.40 0.42 0.42

4 Sep 14 17 4.42 3.17 3.85

7 Sep 0 0 0.88 0.00 0.00

9 Sep 7 8 6.27 1.12 1.28

10 Sep 11 11 5.85 3.85 3.85

11 Sep 12 22 5.63 2.13 3.91

12 Sep 12 22 6.60 3.45 6.20

13 Sep 22 57 5.83 3.77 9.78

14 Sep 12 13 6.22 1.93 2.09

15 Sep 15 22 5.05 2.97 4.36

16 Sep 9 12 5.37 1.68 2.23

17 Sep 8 10 6.50 1.23 1.54

18 Sep 38 56 6.78 5.60 8.26

19 Sep 16 246 6.75 2.37 36.44

20 Sep 12 18 6.02 1.99 2.99

21 Sep 3 4 1.53 1.96 2.61

22 Sep 8 9 6.17 1.30 1.46

26 Sep 1 5 3.80 0.26 1.32

27 Sep 4 4 2.57 1.56 1.56

28 Sep 32 141 3.90 8.21 36.15

30 Sep 46 202 5.80 7.93 34.83

1 Oct 3 4 5.18 0.58 0.77

2 Oct 2 3 5.03 0.62 0.93

4 Oct 7 9 4.77 1.47 1.89

5 Oct 23 39 5.23 4.40 7.46

6 Oct 0 0 0.62 0.00 0.00

7 Oct 5 9 3.26 3.01 5.51

8 Oct 5 7 3.97 1.26 1.76

9 Oct 7 7 6.10 1.15 1.15

10 Oct 28 62 5.87 4.77 10.56

11 Oct 17 22 5.92 2.87 3.72

12 Oct 0 0 2.37 0.00 0.00

18 Oct 0 0 2.02 0.00 0.00

22 Oct 0 0 6.17 0.00 0.00

23 Oct 0 0 2.10 0.00 0.00

25 Oct 0 0 2.28 0.00 0.00

26 Oct 2 2 5.67 0.35 0.35

27 Oct 0 0 6.60 0.00 0.00
31

1998 Whales Per Unit Effort (WPUE)

WPUE

0.47 0 0.42

3.85

0

1.28

3.853.91

6.2

9.78

2.09

4.36

2.23

1.54

8.26

36.44

2.99 2.61

1.46 1.321.56

36.15

34.83

0.770.93

1.89

7.46

0

5.51

1.761.15

10.56

3.72

0 0 0 0 0 0.35 0

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

31-Aug

2-Sep4-Sep6-Sep8-Sep

10-Sep12-Sep14-Sep16-Sep18-Sep20-Sep22-Sep24-Sep26-Sep28-Sep30-Sep

2-Oct4-Oct6-Oct8-Oct

10-Oct12-Oct14-Oct16-Oct18-Oct20-Oct22-Oct24-Oct26-Oct

1998 Sightings Per Unit Effort (SPUE)

SPUE

.47 0 0.42

3.17

0

1.12

3.85

2.13

3.45 3.77

1.93

2.97

1.681.23

5.6

2.371.991.96

1.3

0.26

1.56

8.21 7.93

0.58 0.62

1.47

4.4

0

3.01

1.26 1.15

4.77

2.87

0 0 0 0 0 0.35 0

0

5

10

15

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40

31-Aug

2-Sep4-Sep6-Sep8-Sep

10-Sep12-Sep14-Sep16-Sep18-Sep20-Sep22-Sep

24 Sep26 Sep

28-Sep30-Sep

2-Oct4-Oct6-Oct8-Oct

10-Oct12-Oct14-Oct16-Oct18-Oct20-Oct22-Oct24-Oct26-Oct

Figure 14. Daily Relative Abundance (WPUE) and Sighting Rate (SPUE) of Bowhead Whales,

 31 August – 27 October 1998

 (Zeros indicate days when flights were made but no whales were observed.)
32

The most prominent differences in pattern between the graph for relative abundance and that for sighting

rate occurred on 19 September, 28 September, and 30 September (Fig. 14), due to several large pods of

feeding whales observed on those days (Appendix C: Table C-1).

3. Habitat Associations: In addition to general ice coverage for arctic waters in 1998 (Appendix

A), the percentage of ice cover visible from the aircraft at each bowhead sighting (Appendix C: Table C-1)

was summarized. Over the field season, 1,044 whales (almost 100%) were sighted in open water (0%

sea ice), with 1 whale (<1%) in 6- through 10-percent sea ice. Open water (0% sea ice) predominated

throughout the field season (Table 5).

A description of water depth associated with the bowhead migration appears in the water-depth analyses

in Section V.A.2.

4. Behaviors: Of 1,045 bowhead whales observed during Fall 1998, 433 (41%) were feeding, 418

(40%) swimming (moving forward in an apparently deliberate manner), and 98 (9%) milling when first

sighted. Less frequent behaviors included 41 (4%) that were resting, 25 (2%) diving, 9 (1%) breaching, 8

(1%) tail-slapping, 6 (1%) thrashing, 4 (1%) in cow-calf associations, 1 log-playing, and 1 spy-hopping

(Table 6). All behaviors noted are defined in Table 1.

Feeding bowhead whales were observed, mostly within 20 nm of shore, between 149°W. and 156°W.

longitudes. The high percentage of feeding behaviors in Fall 1998 was likely associated with greater

availability of prey species in this region. On 19 September, several large groups of bowhead whales

were observed feeding near 71°10.0' N., between 154°31.0' W. and 155°21.8' W., further confirming the

importance of the nearshore area east of Barrow as an occasional feeding area (Landino et al., 1994;

Ljungblad et al., 1986) (Appendix C: Table C-1).

During the 1998 field season, there were no sightings of bowhead whales for which definite responses to

the survey aircraft were apparent. Sudden overt changes (e.g., an abrupt dive, course diversion, or

cessation of behavior ongoing) in whale behavior were looked for, but none were observed.

D. Other Marine Mammal Observations

1. Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus): Over the 1998 season, 3 incidental sightings were made

for a total of 5 gray whales. The whales were sighted during September at 3 offshore locations between

Deadhorse and Barrow (Table 3 and Fig. 15).

2. Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas): Although the study area and survey altitude were

designed to record the fall migration of bowhead whales, beluga whales, which undertake a somewhat

parallel migration farther offshore, were always counted. Over the Fall 1998 field season, 26 sightings

were made for a total of 306 beluga whales (Table 3) during 180.64 hr of survey effort (Table 2) and a

seasonal relative abundance of 1.69 WPUE. Beluga whales were sighted beginning 3 September through

27 October, between 140°W. and 155°W. longitudes, mostly between 40 and 60 nm from shore, south of

72°N. latitude. A few pods near the Canadian border were closer to shore (Fig. 16). Sizes of pods (or

close aggregations of pods) ranged from 1 to 75 whales, with a mean of 11.77 (SD=21.02, n=26). Fortyseven beluga calves were noted for a calf ratio of 0.15. All but one pod of belugas were sighted in open

water (0% sea ice).

3. Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus nauticus): Over the 1998 season, 33 incidental sightings

were made for a total of 38 bearded seals (Table 3 and Fig. 17). All but one of the bearded seals

(observed on 27 October) were in open water (0% sea ice) when sighted.

4. Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida hispida): Over the 1998 season, 112 incidental sightings were

made for a total of 938 ringed seals (Table 3). Sightings were made across the study area, mostly

between 0 and 70 nm from shore (Fig. 18). All the ringed seals observed before 9 October were in open

water (0% sea ice).
33

Table 5

Semimonthly Summary of Bowhead Whales Observed,

by Percent Ice Cover Present at Sighting Location, Fall 1998

% Ice Cover 31 Aug 1-15 Sep 16-30 Sep 1-15 Oct 16-27 Oct Total

0 1 (100%) 173 (100%) 707 (100%) 162 (100%) 1 (50%) 1,044 (100%)

1-5 0 0 0 0 0 0

6-10 0 0 0 0 1 (50%) 1

11-20 0 0 0 0 0 0

21-30 0 0 0 0 0 0

31-40 0 0 0 0 0 0

41-50 0 0 0 0 0 0

51-60 0 0 0 0 0 0

61-70 0 0 0 0 0 0

71-80 0 0 0 0 0 0

81-90 0 0 0 0 0 0

91-99 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 1 (100%) 173 (100%) 707 (100%) 162 (100%) 2 (100%) 1,045 (100%)

Table 6

Semimonthly Summary of Bowhead Whales Observed, by Behavioral Category, Fall 1998

Behavior 31 Aug 1-15 Sep 16-30 Sep 1-15 Oct 16-27 Oct Total

Breaching 0 5 (3%) 4 (1%) 0 0 9 (1%)

Cow-Calf 0 0 4 (1%) 0 0 4 (1%)

Diving 0 10 (6%) 12 (2%) 3 (2%) 0 25 (2%)

Feeding 0 6 (3%) 406 (57%) 21 (13%) 0 433 (41%)

Log Playing 0 1 (1%) 0 0 0 1

Milling 0 26 (15%) 55 (8%) 17 (10%) 0 98 (9%)

Resting 0 10 (6%) 24 (3%) 6 (4%) 1 ( 50%) 41 (4%)

Spy Hopping 0 0 0 1 (1%) 0 1

Swimming 1 (100%) 109 (63%) 194 (27%) 113 (70%) 1 (50%) 418 (40%)

Tail Slapping 0 6 (3%) 1 1 (1%) 0 8 (1%)

Thrashing 0 0 6 (1%) 0 0 6 (1%)

(not noted) 0 0 1 0 0 1

TOTAL 1 (100%) 173 (100%) 707 (100%) 162 (100%) 2 (100%) 1,045 (100%)
34

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Dease Inlet

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Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

= Gray Whale

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 15. Map of Gray Whale Sightings, Fall 1998
35

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 Pt. Alaska

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Hers Is

Dease Inlet

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Colville Delta

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Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

< Beluga Whale

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 16. Map of Beluga Whale Sightings, Fall 1998
36

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Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

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Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

 Bearded Seal

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 17. Map of Bearded Seal Sightings, Fall 1998
37

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Harrison Bay

U

S

.

.

A

.

C

AN

A

D

A

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

 Ringed Seal

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 18. Map of Ringed Seal Sightings, Fall 1998
38

5. Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens): Over the 1998 season, 3 incidental sightings were

made for a total of 3 walruses. Two sightings near the Canadian border included one on 1 October as far

east as 141°25.7' W. longitude (Table 3 and Fig. 19).

6. Unidentified Cetaceans and Pinnipeds: Over the 1998 season, there were 10 incidental

sightings for a total of 20 unidentified pinnipeds and no sightings of unidentified cetaceans (Table 3).

7. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus marinus): Over the 1998 season, 69 incidental sightings were

made for a total of 235 polar bears (Table 3). Most of the bears were on barrier islands between 142°W.

and 150°W. longitudes (Fig. 20). An unknown proportion of these bears appeared to remain on the

islands waiting for the sea ice and may have been recounted on subsequent days. In addition to the polar

bear sightings, 26 sets of polar bear tracks were noted for which no bear was present. Tracks mirrored

the distribution of observed bears, with some inshore tracks extending farther east to Demarcation Point

(Table 3 and Fig. 21).
39

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Harrison Bay

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Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

, Pacific Walrus

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 19. Map of Pacific Walrus Sightings, Fall 1998
40

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Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

% Polar Bear

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 20. Map of Polar Bear Sightings, Fall 1998
41

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Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

( Polar Bear Track

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 21. Map of Polar Bear Tracks, Fall 1998
43

IV. FALL 1999 RESULTS

A. Environmental Conditions

General ice coverage during Fall 1999 in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea (Appendix B) was light during the

month of September. From 27 August through 24 September, conditions were generally ice-free south of

72° N. latitude, with the exception of some localized medium concentrations (20-79%) in the northeastern

part of the study area. By 1 October, 20- through 39-percent sea ice had formed along much of the

shoreline. By 8 October, the shore-fast ice was in an unbroken strip of 60- through 79-percent

concentration from Barrow to Kaktovik. By 15 October, light to moderate offshore ice concentrations

prevailed over much of the study area east of 152°W. longitude. By 22 October, near-solid ice (>94%)

covered all but the westernmost part of the study area. By 29 October, the entire study area was

blanketed in almost near-solid ice. Ice percent at each sighting of endangered whales is shown in

Appendix D.

Environmental conditions permitted 36 flights during Fall 1999. The weather was notably poor (high sea

states and/or low cloud ceilings) from 18 through 23 September and from 2 through 12 October,

permitting no survey hours in those time periods (Table 7).

B. Survey Effort

Daily totals of kilometers and hours flown per survey flight during Fall 1999 are shown in Table 7. A total

of 26,053 km of surveys were flown in 114.16 hours in the study area at an average speed of 228.21

km/hr. The average survey flight was 723.69 km, with over-ocean flight distances ranging from 10 km to

1,455 km. A total of 13,511 km of random-transect lines were flown in 60.15 hours at an average speed

of 224.62 km/hr. These random transects constituted 51.86 percent of the total kilometers flown and

52.69 percent of the total flight hours. Survey-flight lines are summarized by semimonthly period in

Figures 22 through 26.

On 31 August, survey coverage ranged from 146°W. to 148°W. longitudes, within 40 nautical miles (nm)

of shore (Fig. 22). There were 0.88 hours of random transects flown out of 1.65 total flight hours during

this period (Table 7), constituting 1.5 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively, of the total time spent in those

effort categories.

During the first half of September, survey coverage ranged from 140°W. to 154°W. longitudes, within 90

nm of shore (Fig. 23). There were 19.07 hours of random transects flown out of 39.01 total flight hours

during this period (Table 7), constituting 31.7 percent and 34.2 percent, respectively, of the total time

spent in those effort categories.

During the second half of September, survey coverage ranged from 140°W. to 157°W. longitudes, within

100 nm of shore (Fig. 24). There were 12.73 hours of random transects flown out of 25.48 total flight

hours during this period (Table 7), constituting 21.2 percent and 22.3 percent, respectively, of the total

time spent in those effort categories.

During the first half of October, survey coverage ranged from 146°W. to 157°W. longitudes, within 70 nm

of shore (Fig. 25). There were 9.15 hours of random transects flown out of 15.75 total flight hours during

this period (Table 7), constituting 15.2 percent and 13.8 percent, respectively, of the total time spent in

those effort categories. Poor weather conditions limited survey coverage during this period.

From 16 through 23 October, survey coverage ranged from 146°W. to 157°W. longitudes, within 90 nm of

shore (Fig. 26). There were 18.32 hours of random transects flown out of 32.27 total flight hours during

this period (Table 7), constituting 30.5 percent and 28.3 percent, respectively, of the total time spent in

those effort categories.
44

Table 7

Aerial-Survey Effort in the Beaufort Sea, 31 August-23 October 1999, by Survey Flight

Day

Flight

No.

Transect

(km)

Connect

(km)

Search

(km)

Total

(km)

Transect

(hr)

Total

(hr)

31 Aug 1 180 49 91 320 0.88 1.65

2 Sep 2 0 0 65 65 0.00 0.23

3 Sep 3 0 0 174 174 0.00 0.83

3 Sep 4 259 81 281 621 1.12 2.63

5 Sep 5 0 0 10 10 0.00 0.03

6 Sep 6 970 206 258 1,434 4.38 6.47

7 Sep 7 828 203 411 1,441 3.68 6.42

8 Sep 8 11 0 182 192 0.05 0.75

9 Sep 9 557 98 262 918 2.45 4.02

10 Sep 10 0 0 115 115 0.00 0.55

10 Sep 11 75 0 474 549 0.33 2.43

11 Sep 12 699 214 453 1,366 3.05 6.15

12 Sep 13 361 44 545 950 1.58 3.87

13 Sep 14 553 191 367 1,111 2.43 4.63

16 Sep 15 0 0 199 199 0.00 0.73

16 Sep 16 406 179 463 1,048 1.75 4.45

17 Sep 17 643 212 236 1,091 2.77 4.72

20 Sep 18 0 0 227 227 0.00 0.97

24 Sep 19 397 46 493 936 1.68 4.03

25 Sep 20 459 121 367 947 2.05 4.20

29 Sep 21 1,007 115 216 1,338 4.48 6.10

30 Sep 22 0 0 60 60 0.00 0.28

1 Oct 23 0 0 136 136 0.00 0.63

11 Oct 24 38 0 166 204 0.15 0.77

13 Oct 25 555 102 584 1,241 2.47 5.17

14 Oct 26 396 59 14 470 1.78 2.17

14 Oct 27 511 69 71 651 2.37 3.07

15 Oct 28 245 54 79 377 1.10 1.67

15 Oct 29 289 55 108 452 1.28 2.27

17 Oct 30 1,012 158 285 1,455 4.47 6.33

18 Oct 31 703 134 578 1,415 3.15 6.07

20 Oct 32 208 24 149 381 0.95 1.72

20 Oct 33 464 173 86 722 2.05 3.23

21 Oct 34 817 108 487 1,411 3.73 6.28

22 Oct 35 855 138 418 1,410 3.92 6.27

23 Oct 36 13 0 603 616 0.05 2.37

Semimonthly Effort Summary

31 Aug 180 49 91 320 0.88 1.65

1-15 Sep 4,313 1,037 3,597 8,946 19.07 39.01

16-30 Sep 2,912 673 2,261 5,846 12.73 25.48

1-15 Oct 2,034 339 1,158 3,531 9.15 15.75

16-23 Oct 4,072 735 2,606 7,410 18.32 32.27

TOTAL 13,511 2,833 9,713 26,053 60.15 114.16
45

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 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey BlocksFlight Lines

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 22. Flight Track, 31 August 1999
46

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Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey BlocksFlight Lines

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 23. Combined Flight Tracks, 1-15 September 1999
47

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Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey BlocksFlight Lines

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 24. Combined Flight Tracks, 16-30 September 1999
48

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Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

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Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey BlocksFlight Lines

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 25. Combined Flight Tracks, 1-15 October 1999
49

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Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

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Flaxman Is.

Barrow

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Survey BlocksFlight Lines

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 26. Combined Flight Tracks, 16-23 October 1999
50

C. Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) Observations

1. Distribution: Two hundred fourteen sightings were made for a total of 397 bowhead whales

observed during Fall-1999 surveys in the study area (Table 8 and Figs. 27-31), not counting definite repeat

sightings or dead whales. Total survey coverage between 140°W. and 157°W. longitudes (Figs. 23-26),

resulted in distribution of bowhead whales all across the study area generally within 50 nm north of the

shoreline, with heavier concentrations (unadjusted for effort) between 140°W. and 145°W. and between

151°W. and 157°W. longitudes (Fig. 31). Nine of the 397 whales were identified as calves (Appendix D:

Table D-1), resulting in a seasonal calf ratio (number calves/total whales) of 0.023. A semi-monthly analysis

follows.

There were no bowhead whales observed on 31 August (Table 8).

During the first half of September, 70 sightings were made for a total of 96 bowheads (Table 8), with

sightings between 140°W. and 152°W. longitudes, based on survey coverage between 140°W. and 154°W.

longitudes (Fig. 23). The first bowhead in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea was sighted at 70°14.8 ́N. latitude,

144°00.0 ́W. longitude. Whale pods were concentrated between 140°W. and 145°W. longitudes, within 40

nm north of the shoreline (Fig. 27). Pod sizes ranged from 1 to 5 whales, with a mean of 1.37 (SD=0.71,

n=70). Four bowhead whale calves were observed during this period (Appendix D: Table D-1).

During the second half of September, 55 sightings were made for a total of 78 bowheads (Table 8), with

sightings from 140°W. to 157°W. longitudes, based on survey coverage between 140°W. and 157°W.

longitudes (Fig. 24). Whale pods were distributed fairly evenly east to west across the study area, within 40

nm north of the shoreline (Fig. 28). Pod sizes ranged from 1 to 4 whales, with a mean of 1.42 (SD=0.83,

n=55). No bowhead whale calves were observed during this period (Appendix D: Table D-1).

During the first half of October, 15 sightings were made for a total of 18 bowheads (Table 8), with sightings

from 146°W. to 157°W. longitudes, based on survey coverage between 146°W. and 157°W. longitudes (Fig.

25). Whale pods were distributed evenly in those areas where transect effort was made, with most pods in

Survey Block 1, mostly within 30 nm north of the shoreline (Fig. 29). Pod sizes ranged from 1 to 3 whales,

with a mean of 1.20 (SD=0.56, n=15). No bowhead whale calves were observed during this period

(Appendix D: Table D-1).

From 16 through 23 October, 74 sightings were made for a total of 205 bowheads (Table 8), with sightings

from 148°W. to 157°W. longitudes, based on survey coverage between 146°W. and 157°W. longitudes (Fig.

26). Whale pods were mostly located in a tight pattern offshore between Barrow and Oliktok Point, mostly

between 10 and 40 nm north of the shoreline (Fig. 30). This tight pattern, while reflecting survey effort to an

extent, fit neatly with the ice-free area shown for 15 and 22 October (Appendix B). Pod sizes ranged from 1

to 50 whales, with a mean of 2.77 (SD=7.05, n=74). The last bowhead in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea was

sighted at 71°06.6 ́N. latitude, 153°35.0 ́W. longitude. Five bowhead whale calves were observed during

this period (Appendix D: Table D-1).

2. Migration Timing and Relative Abundance: The day-to-day timing of the bowhead whale

migration during Fall 1999 was calculated over the entire study area (Table 9 and Fig. 32).

Of the 214 sightings of bowhead whale pods, the first whales observed were on 3 September. The data for

daily sighting rates showed a fairly level distribution over the field season, with higher values on 11

September (4.39 SPUE), 16 September (4.49 SPUE), and 21 October (4.46 SPUE). The low values in

Figure 32 for 18-23 September and 2-12 October were due to poor flying weather. The last sighting of a

bowhead whale was made on 22 October (Table 9 and Fig. 32).

Of the 397 individual bowhead whales counted, the data for daily relative abundance show that the midpoint

(median) of the bowhead migration in Blocks 1 through 12 (when 50% of all sighted whales had been
Table 8

Summary of Marine Mammal Sightings, 31 August-23 October 1999, by Survey Flight

(number of sightings/number of animals)

51

Day

Flight

No.

Bowhead

Whale

Gray

Whale

Beluga

Whale

Unidentified

Cetacean

Bearded

Seal

Ringed

Seal

Pacific

Walrus

Unidentified

Pinniped

31 Aug 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

2 Sep 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Sep 3 0 0 0 0 1/1 0 0 0 3 Sep 4 10/13 0 1/1 0 7/8 10/20 0 0 5 Sep 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Sep 6 2/2 0 4/22 0 0 0 0 1/1 7 Sep 7 17/30 0 2/3 0 15/19 43/336 0 2/3 8 Sep 8 0 0 0 0 0 1/2 0 0 9 Sep 9 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1/1 

10 Sep 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 Sep 11 1/1 0 0 0 0 6/34 0 0 11 Sep 12 27/33 0 6/21 1/1 9/9 28/116 0 0 12 Sep 13 3/4 0 3/20 0 1/1 20/67 0 0 13 Sep 14 8/10 0 1/2 0 5/6 8/25 0 0 16 Sep 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 Sep 16 20/28 0 1/1 0 3/3 21/46 0 0 17 Sep 17 9/13 0 4/113 0 13/19 36/275 0 1/1 20 Sep 18 0 0 0 0 1/1 0 0 0 24 Sep 19 10/14 1/2 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 Sep 20 2/2 0 0 0 0 42/207 0 0 29 Sep 21 14/21 0 8/50 0 3/3 34/181 0 0 30 Sep 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

1 Oct 23 1/1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

11 Oct 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 Oct 25 6/7 0 5/15 0 1/1 2/3 0 0 14 Oct 26 4/6 0 7/25 0 0 0 0 0 14 Oct 27 3/3 0 0 0 2/2 2/9 0 0 15 Oct 28 1/1 0 0 0 1/1 0 0 0 15 Oct 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 Oct 30 11/16 0 16/71 0 2/2 1/1 0 0 18 Oct 31 23/117 0 3/16 0 0 3/3 0 0 
Table 8

Summary of Marine Mammal Sightings, 31 August-23 October 1999, by Survey Flight

(number of sightings/number of animals)

52

Day

Flight

No.

Bowhead

Whale

Gray

Whale

Beluga

Whale

Unidentified

Cetacean

Bearded

Seal

Ringed

Seal

Pacific

Walrus

Unidentified

Pinniped

20 Oct 32 1/1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 Oct 33 0 0 4/27 0 0 1/1 0 1/1 21 Oct 34 28/54 0 8/17 0 1/1 1/1 0 2/2 22 Oct 35 11/17 0 13/42 0 4/4 0 0 1/1 23 Oct 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

 31 Aug 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

1-15 Sep 70/96 0 17/69 1/1 38/44 116/598 0 4/5 

16-30 Sep 55/78 1/2 13/164 0 20/26 133/709 0 1/1 

1-15 Oct 15/18 0 12/40 0 4/4 4/12 0 0 

16-23 Oct 74/205 0 44/173 0 7/7 6/6 0 4/4 

 TOTAL 214/397 1/2 86/446 1/1 69/81 259/1,325 0 9/10 
53

Table 9

Number of Sightings and Total Bowhead Whales Observed per Hour,

31 August-23 October 1999, by Flight Day

Day

No. of

Sightings

No. of

Whales

Survey

Time (hr)

Sightings/hr

(SPUE)

Whales/hr

(WPUE)

31 Aug 0 0 1.65 0.00 0.00

2 Sep 0 0 0.23 0.00 0.00

3 Sep 10 13 3.46 3.80 4.94

5 Sep 0 0 0.03 0.00 0.00

6 Sep 2 2 6.47 0.31 0.31

7 Sep 17 30 6.42 2.65 4.67

8 Sep 0 0 0.75 0.00 0.00

9 Sep 2 3 4.02 0.50 0.75

10 Sep 1 1 2.98 0.41 0.41

11 Sep 27 33 6.15 4.39 5.37

12 Sep 3 4 3.87 0.78 1.03

13 Sep 8 10 4.63 1.73 2.16

16 Sep 20 28 5.18 4.49 6.29

17 Sep 9 13 4.72 1.91 2.75

20 Sep 0 0 0.97 0.00 0.00

24 Sep 10 14 4.03 2.48 3.47

25 Sep 2 2 4.20 0.48 0.48

29 Sep 14 21 6.10 2.30 3.44

30 Sep 0 0 0.28 0.00 0.00

1 Oct 1 1 0.63 1.59 1.59

11 Oct 0 0 0.77 0.00 0.00

13 Oct 6 7 5.17 1.16 1.35

14 Oct 7 9 5.24 2.82 3.74

15 Oct 1 1 3.94 0.60 0.60

17 Oct 11 16 6.33 1.74 2.53

18 Oct 23 117 6.07 3.79 19.28

20 Oct 1 1 4.95 0.58 0.58

21 Oct 28 54 6.28 4.46 8.60

22 Oct 11 17 6.27 1.75 2.71

23 Oct 0 0 2.37 0.00 0.00
54

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Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

 Bowhead Whale

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 27. Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 1-15 September 1999
55

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Barrow

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Survey Blocks

Sightings

 Bowhead Whale

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 28. Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 16-30 September 1999
56

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Survey Blocks

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 Bowhead Whale

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 29. Map of Bowhead W hale Sightings, 1-15 October 1999
57

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Survey Blocks

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 Bowhead Whale

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Figure 30. Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, 16-23 October 1999
58

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Survey Blocks

Sightings

 Bowhead Whale

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 31. Map of Bowhead Whale Sightings, Fall 1999
59

1999 Whales Per Unit Effort (WPUE)

WPUE

0 0

4.94

0 0.31

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0

0.75 0.41

5.37

1.03

2.16

6.29

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31-Aug

2-Sep4-Sep6-Sep8-Sep

10-Sep12-Sep14-Sep16-Sep18-Sep20-Sep22-Sep24-Sep26-Sep28-Sep30-Sep

2-Oct4-Oct6-Oct8-Oct

10-Oct12-Oct14-Oct16-Oct18-Oct20-Oct22-Oct

1999 Sightings Per Unit Effort (SPUE)

SPUE

0 0

3.8

0 0.31

2.65

0

0.5 0.41

4.39

0.78

1.73

4.49

1.91

0

2.48

0.48

2.3

0

1.59

0

1.16

2.82

0.6

1.74

3.79

0.58

4.46

1.75

0

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

31-Aug

2-Sep4-Sep6-Sep8-Sep

10-Sep12-Sep14-Sep16-Sep18-Sep20-Sep22-Sep24-Sep26-Sep28-Sep30-Sep

2 Oct

4-Oct6-Oct8-Oct

10-Oct12-Oct14-Oct16-Oct18-Oct20-Oct22-Oct

Figure 32. Daily Relative Abundance (WPUE) and Sighting Rate (SPUE) of Bowhead Whales,

 31 August – 23 October 1999

 (Zeros indicate days when flights were made but no whales were observed.)
60

recorded) occurred on 17 October. The peak count (mode) of 117 whales (19.28 WPUE) occurred on 18

October (Table 9 and Fig. 32).

The most prominent differences in pattern between the graph for relative abundance and that for sighting rate

occurred on 18 October (Fig. 32), due to two large pods of whales observed on those days (Appendix D: Table

D-1).

3. Habitat Associations: In addition to general ice coverage for arctic waters in 1999 (Appendix B),

the percentage of ice cover visible from the aircraft at each bowhead sighting (Appendix D: Table D-1) was

summarized. Over the field season, 226 whales (57%) were sighted in open water (0% sea ice), with

declining proportions of whales were observed in open water as the season progressed. In September, all

174 whales (100%) were in open water; from 1-15 October, 8 whales (44%) were in open water; and from 16-

23 October, 44 whales (21%) were in open water. From 16-23 October, 109 whales (53%) were observed in

91- through 99-percent concentrations of sea ice (Table 10).

A description of water depth associated with the bowhead migration appears in the water-depth analyses in

Section V.A.2.

4. Behaviors: Of 397 bowhead whales observed during Fall 1999, 196 (49%) were swimming (moving

forward in an apparently deliberate manner), 88 (22%) feeding, 44 (11%) milling, and 26 (7%) resting when

first sighted. Less frequent behaviors included 10 (2%) that were diving, 9 (2%) breaching, 4 (1%) in cow-calf

associations, 3 (1%) mating, 3 (1%) tail-slapping, and 2 (1%) flipper-slapping (Table 11). All behaviors noted

are defined in Table 1.

On 18 October, one group of 50 and another group of 38 bowhead whales were observed within approx. 15

nm of shore between 153°W. and 154°W. longitudes (Appendix D: Table D-1).

During the 1999 field season, there was one sighting of 2 bowhead whales for which a response to the survey

aircraft appeared definite (Appendix C: Table C-1). The pod, swimming slow when first observed, splashed

the water as the plane passed by at an altitude of 505 m ASL. Sudden overt changes (e.g., an abrupt dive,

course diversion, or cessation of behavior ongoing) in whale behavior were looked for, but no others were

observed.

D. Other Marine Mammal Observations

1. Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus): Over the 1999 season, 1 incidental sighting was made for a

total of 2 gray whales (Table 8). The pod was feeding just west of Barrow on 24 September (Fig.33). One

unidentified whale, observed on 11 September at 70°13.7 ́N. latitude, 141°51.4 ́W. longitude, was thought to

be a gray whale, although we were unable to relocate it to confirm the species.

2. Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas): Over the Fall 1999 field season, 86 sightings were made

for a total of 446 beluga whales (Table 8) during 114.16 hr of survey effort (Table 7) and a seasonal relative

abundance of 3.91 WPUE. Beluga whales were sighted beginning 3 September through 22 October across

the study area, mostly between 40 and 70 nm from shore, south of 72°N. latitude. A few pods near the

Kaktovik and Barrow were closer to shore (Fig. 34). Sizes of pods (or close aggregations of pods) ranged

from 1 to 62 whales, with a mean of 5.19 (SD=8.67, n=86). Twenty-seven beluga calves were noted for a calf

ratio of 0.06. From 3 September through 13 October, all but one of the belugas was observed in open water

(0% sea ice). From 14-22 October, most of the belugas were associated with 50- through 99-percent sea ice.

3. Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus nauticus): Over the 1999 season, 69 incidental sightings

were made for a total of 81 bearded seals (Table 8). Bearded seals were mostly observed during September,

east of Deadhorse (Fig. 35). Since survey effort in this area was mostly nearshore (Figs. 22-26), most of
61

Table 10

Semimonthly Summary of Bowhead Whales Observed,

 by Percent Ice Cover Present at Sighting Location, Fall 1999

% Ice Cover 1-15 Sep 16-30 Sep 1-15 Oct 16-23 Oct Total

0 96 (100%) 78 (100%) 8 (44%) 44 (21%) 226 (57%)

1-5 0 0 0 6 (3%) 6 (2%)

6-10 0 0 0 2 (1%) 2

11-20 0 0 0 0 0

21-30 0 0 0 0 0

31-40 0 0 0 4 (2%) 4 (1%)

41-50 0 0 0 16 (8%) 16 (4%)

51-60 0 0 0 0 0

61-70 0 0 0 0 0

71-80 0 0 0 2 (1%) 2

81-90 0 0 1 (6%) 22 (11%) 23 (6%)

91-99 0 0 9 (50%) 109 (53%) 118 (30%)

TOTAL 96 (100%) 78 (100%) 18 (100%) 205 (100%) 397 (100%)

Table 11

Semimonthly Summary of Bowhead Whales Observed, by Behavioral Category, Fall 1999

Behavior 1-15 Sep 16-30 Sep 1-15 Oct 16-23 Oct Total

Breach 1 (1%) 0 0 8 (4%) 9 (2%)

Cow-Calf 2 (2%) 0 0 2 (1%) 4 (1%)

Dive 5 (5%) 4 (5%) 0 1 (1%) 10 (2%)

Feed 0 0 0 88 (43%) 88 (22%)

Flipper Slap 2 (2%) 0 0 0 2 (1%)

Mate 0 0 0 3 (1%) 3 (1%)

Mill 12 (13%) 20 (26%) 0 12 (6%) 44 (11%)

Rest 6 (6%) 2 (2%) 6 (33%) 12 (6%) 26 (7%)

Swim 61 (64%) 49 (63%) 12 (67%) 74 (36%) 196 (49%)

Tail Slap 0 0 0 3 (1%) 3 (1%)

Unknown 7 (7%) 3 (4%) 0 2 (1%) 12 (3%)

TOTAL 96 (100%) 78 (100%) 18 (100%) 205 (100%) 397 (100%)
62

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Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

= Gray Whale

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 33. Map of Gray Whale Sightings, Fall 1999
63

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Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

< Beluga Whale

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 34. Map of Beluga Whale Sightings, Fall 1999
64

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Survey Blocks

Sightings

 Bearded Seal

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 35. Map of Bearded Seal Sightings, Fall 1999
65

these eastern sightings were within 40 nm north of the shoreline. All but one of the bearded seals were in

open water (0% sea ice).

4. Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida hispida): Over the 1999 season, 259 incidental sightings were

made for a total of 1,325 ringed seals (Table 8). Ringed seals were mostly observed during September. 

Some sightings were clustered between 30 nm and 80 nm north of the Colville Delta. Many other

sightings were east of Deadhorse (Fig. 36). Since survey effort east of Deadhorse was mostly nearshore

(Figs. 22-26), most of these eastern sightings were within 60 nm north of the shoreline (Fig. 36). All but

two of the ringed seals were in open water (0% sea ice) when sighted.

5. Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens): No walruses were sighted during the 1999 season

(Table 8).

6. Unidentified Cetaceans and Pinnipeds: Over the 1999 season, 1 incidental sighting of a large

whale (probably a gray whale) was made. Nine sightings were made for a total of 19 unidentified

pinnipeds (Table 8).

7. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus marinus): Over the 1999 season, 23 incidental sightings were

made for a total of 37 polar bears (Table 8). Most of the bears were on barrier islands near Kaktovik or

just east of Deadhorse (Fig. 37). In addition to the polar bear sightings, 70 sets of polar bear tracks were

recorded for which no bear was present. Most of the tracks were noted well offshore between 146°W.

and 155°W. longitudes starting 15 October when ice began covering the study area (Table 8, Fig. 38,

Appendix B).
66

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Barrow

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Survey Blocks

Sightings

 Ringed Seal

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 36. Map of Ringed Seal Sightings, Fall 1999
67

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Dease Inlet

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Barrow

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Survey Blocks

Sightings

% Polar Bear

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 37. Map of Polar Bear Sightings, Fall 1999
68

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Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

Sightings

( Polar Bear Track

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 38. Map of Polar Bear Tracks, Fall 1999
69

V. INTERANNUAL RESULTS (1979-1999)

A. Statistical Analyses of the Bowhead Whale Migration Corridor (1982-1999)

1. Central Tendency Statistics - Distance from Shore: Transect data were analyzed over a 18-

year period (1982-1999) in two regions of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea (Fig. 2). Annual central-tendency

statistics for distance of bowhead whales from shore were summarized by year and region (Table 12 and

Fig. 39). The mean distance of the whale migration from shore in each region was also depicted visually for

Fall 1998 (Fig. 41) and for Fall 1999 (Fig. 42).

East Region

The combined data (1982-1999) included 666 transect sightings (trSI) in the East Region. Mean measures

of distance from shore among years ranged from 15.1 km (in 1997) to 89.7 km (in 1983). The Confidence

Interval (CI) about the mean was widest (>30 km) in 1988 and 1989, each of which had a small sample size

(<10 trSI) (Table 12 and Fig. 39).

West Region

The combined data (1982-1999) included 584 transect sightings in the West Region. Mean measures of

distance from shore ranged from 24.8 km (in 1994) to 65.9 km (in 1988). The CI about the mean was

widest (>30 km) in 1985, 1987, 1990, 1991, and 1994, each of which had a small sample size (<10 trSI). 

The axis of the bowhead migration in the West Region was nearer to shore (median = 20.9 km) during Fall

1998 than for any previous year, 1982-1999 (Table 12 and Fig. 39).

2. Central Tendency Statistics - Water Depth: The transect data were analyzed over a 18-year

period (1982-1999) in two regions of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea (Fig. 2). Annual central-tendency statistics

for water depth at bowhead whale sightings were summarized by year and region (Table 13 and Fig. 40). 

Although water depths for individual whales using the higher resolution IPCAO bathymetry often differed

from depths noted for these same whales in previous years, the annual median water depths (Fig. 40)

appear remarkably similar to medians derived with a previously used DEPTH program (Treacy, 1998: Figure

28).

East Region

The combined data (1982-1999) included 666 transect sightings in the East Region. Annual mean depths

ranged from 23.9 m (in 1997) to 915.5 m (in 1983). The CI about the mean was widest (>100 m) in 1983,

1988, 1989, 1991 and 1994, four of which had a small sample size (<20 trSI). The 25th - 75th quartiles about

the median were widest apart (>35 m) in 1983, 1989, and 1991 (Table 13 and Fig. 40).

West Region

The combined data (1982-1999) included 584 transect sightings in the West Region. Annual mean depths

ranged from 18.7 m (in 1989) to 312.7 m (in 1983). The CI about the mean was widest (>100 m) in 1982,

1983, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, and 1995, four of which had a small sample size (<20 trSI). The 25th-75th

quartiles about the median were widest apart (>35 m) in 1983, 1985, 1986, and 1991. The axis of the

bowhead migration in the West Region was in shallower water (median = 15.2 m) during Fall 1998 than for

any previous year (1982-1999) except for 1994 (Table 13 and Fig. 40).

3. ANOVA - Distance from Shore: A parametric ANOVA of distances from shore over an 18-year

period (1982-1999) regardless of sample size indicated strongly significant differences among years for the

East Region (F=10.19, p<0.001) and for the West Region (F=19.42, p<0.001). A previous analysis (1982-

1997) comparing only years having a larger sample size (n≥20 trSI), for which a power analysis was

performed, also showed strongly significant differences among years (Treacy, 1998).

4. Tukey HSD Test - Distance from Shore: Since the ANOVA showed significant differences

among years, the Tukey HSD test was applied to all transect sightings of bowhead whales over an 18-year

period (1982-1999) without exclusions to determine which years were significantly different from each other.
Table 12

Central-Tendency Statistics for Distance from Shore (in kilometers) to Random Sightings

of Bowhead Whales (September-October), by Year and Region, 1982-1999

70

Year Region trSI 1

Median

25th-75th

Quartile

Range

Mean SD

2

CI

3 Range

1982 East 28 36.9 31.5-43.2 38.2 8.5 34.9-41.5 26.0-56.6

West 26 41.7 37.7-48.9 43.7 16.7 36.9-50.4 14.6-86.3

1983 East 14 89.5 82.0-98.9 89.7 15.7 80.7-98.8 59.6-121.2

West 15 53.3 42.3-86.6 62.2 26.3 47.6-76.7 27.5-125.3

1984 East 23 36.6 25.6-56.5 39.7 23.9 29.3-50.0 1.9-103.4

West 36 46.2 36.8-60.3 45.7 19.2 39.2-52.2 8.9-85.2

1985 East 10 29.5 23.7-40.5 31.8 16.0 20.4-43.3 1.9-61.4

West 7 50.3 25.9-86.3 53.8 29.2 26.8-80.8 15.4-88.9

1986 East 30 27.5 16.7-39.8 27.8 16.7 21.5-34.0 1.0-58.1

West 19 38.8 24.7-52.4 39.9 22.8 28.9-50.9 3.7-81.7

1987 East 30 33.5 18.5-50.1 37.0 20.7 29.3-44.7 6.9-86.1

West 8 29.2 16.7-51.2 32.7 20.2 15.9-49.6 7.4-60.3

1988 East 6 29.5 24.4-33.9 33.4 23.5 8.8-58.0 6.4-76.8

West 8 64.5 59.1-71.4 65.9 11.2 56.6-75.3 50.7-86.8

1989 East 6 55.8 49.3-89.4 63.4 23.4 38.8-87.9 36.1-94.0

West 17 35.4 15.6-45.8 32.8 19.4 22.8-42.8 7.5-74.5

1990 East 93 33.8 25.4-43.0 34.5 13.8 31.7-37.4 8.1-78.6

West 6 35.8 32.3-48.2 42.5 18.5 23.1-61.9 25.9-77.3

1991 East 14 62.4 39.4-76.7 59.2 20.5 47.4-71.1 34.5-85.6

West 6 46.0 34.1-72.3 51.5 18.8 31.7-71.2 33.6-76.8

1992 East 12 38.2 34.3-51.6 42.5 10.9 35.6-49.4 28.5-60.5

West 13 61.1 45.1-74.3 59.3 17.2 48.9-69.7 29.9-82.2

1993 East 55 30.3 21.2-40.4 31.9 17.0 27.3-36.5 6.4-88.4

West 35 25.1 20.4-38.6 29.9 12.7 25.6-34.3 11.8-62.7

1994 East 32 29.4 22.4-56.2 37.2 18.7 30.4-44.0 13.9-77.7

West 3 23.3 4 24.8 11.5 4 14.1-36.9

1995 East 94 30.2 23.6-41.6 33.1 16.4 29.7-36.5 3.7-99.5

West 44 36.5 25.3-51.7 42.9 26.5 34.8-50.9 7.6-118.7
Table 12

Central-Tendency Statistics for Distance from Shore (in kilometers) to Random Sightings

of Bowhead Whales (September-October), by Year and Region, 1982-1999

71

Year Region trSI 1

Median

25th-75th

Quartile

Range

Mean SD

2

CI

3 Range

1996 East 13 29.4 21.0-34.6 29.1 11.4 22.2-36.0 15.3-57.6

West 15 40.6 23.6-55.1 40.8 14.8 32.6-49.1 21.4-64.1

1997 East 35 10.2 5.9-20.4 15.1 11.9 11.0-19.1 3.4-44.9

West 145 27.4 20.0-36.3 29.2 13.0 27.1-31.3 1.0-66.0

1998 East 103 22.2 13.6-31.3 23.8 13.0 21.3-26.3 4.0-73.8

West 113 20.9 14.7-32.5 26.3 18.6 22.8-29.8 1.1-124.0

1999 East 68 40.2 28.5-49.7 39.5 13.5 36.3-42.8 -0.15-65.8

West 68 36.1 27.0-52.1 39.3 17.5 35.1-43.6 9.2-75.6

Cumulative East 666 31.7 20.9-43.3 34.1 19.2 32.7-35.6 -0.15-121.2

(1982-99) West 584 33.4 20.6-47.6 36.0 20.3 34.4-37.7 1.0-125.3

1

 trSI = number of transect sightings.

2

 SD = standard deviation.

3

 CI ≥ 95-percent confidence interval (positive values). 4

 Insufficient sample size.

5

 Negative value is for one transect sighting between the actual and normalized coastline.
Table 13

Central-Tendency Statistics for Water Depth (in meters) at Random Sightings

of Bowhead Whales (September-October), by Year and Region, 1982-1999

72

Year Region trSI 1

Median

25th-75th

Quartile

Range

Mean SD

2

CI

3 Range

1982 East 28 42.1 38.6-49.0 43.5 6.4 41.0-46.0 34.9-57.3

West 26 30.3 22.8-37.4 94.0 210.9 8.9-179.2 14.3-1041.5

1983 East 14 804.0 263-1779 915.5 718.8 501-1331 64.6-1952.8

West 15 68.3 33.7-209.1 312.7 597.9 18.4-643.9 20.7-2165.7

1984 East 23 43.9 35.2-54.3 77.0 104.8 31.7-122.3 17.8-507.9

West 36 40.3 31.7-55.6 47.7 33.2 36.5-59.0 12.8-189.2

1985 East 10 38.3 34.8-40.8 37.5 7.4 32.3-42.8 22.8-51.0

West 7 35.7 23.9-148.1 193.3 348.5 129-515.6 16.1-974.7

1986 East 30 41.1 24.0-50.2 38.1 18.2 31.4-44.9 6.8-91.5

West 19 28.3 18.9-75.1 77.9 117.4 21.3-134.6 9.6-489.7

1987 East 30 39.7 32.7-54.3 56.3 47.9 38.4-74.2 14.9-223.3

West 8 25.2 13.1-31.6 22.6 10.0 14.2-30.9 8.3-32.4

1988 East 6 48.8 39.1-50.3 92.2 123.5 37.3-221.8 22.9-343.4

West 8 49.4 46.9-52.7 50.3 6.8 44.6-55.9 40.5-63.5

1989 East 6 60.5 51.1-448.4 196.1 219.7 34.5-426.7 47.3-508.8

West 17 20.1 11.3-24.1 18.7 8.1 14.5-22.8 5.8-33.8

1990 East 93 42.0 35.9-50.1 47.7 33.0 40.9-54.5 19.6-284.6

West 6 31.5 22.8-39.2 32.6 11.4 20.6-44.6 20.0-50.6

1991 East 14 68.7 50.5-190.7 128.3 109.6 65.0-191.6 46.3-387.0

West 6 41.5 35.5-204.8 96.6 94.2 2.2-195.5 26.3-230.2

1992 East 12 53.5 47.1-56.0 51.5 6.0 47.7-55.3 40.5-58.9

West 13 50.8 43.9-53.6 54.1 27.8 37.3-70.8 14.3-121.3

1993 East 55 40.5 33.5-50.2 58.4 96.5 32.3-84.5 11.4-716.6

West 35 20.1 16.4-25.4 22.8 9.4 19.6-26.0 10.7-49.3

1994 East 32 46.8 39.0-53.3 79.8 175.6 16.5-143.1 30.7-1037.8

West 3 12.0 4 21.4 16.6 4 11.6-40.5

1995 East 94 41.4 35.7-49.9 52.5 68.7 38.4-66.6 14.9-628.0
Table 13

Central-Tendency Statistics for Water Depth (in meters) at Random Sightings

of Bowhead Whales (September-October), by Year and Region, 1982-1999

73

Year Region trSI 1

Median

25th-75th

Quartile

Range

Mean SD

2

CI

3 Range

West 44 30.8 25.8-38.8 107.4 259.7 28.4-186.4 6.5-1232.8

1996 East 13 39.4 33.4-45.6 37.7 9.3 32.1-43.3 15.0-48.5

West 15 34.8 23.6-44.3 37.0 17.1 27.5-46.5 18.6-82.5

1997 East 35 22.1 13.0-32.0 23.9 11.9 19.8-28.0 10.5-50.0

West 145 20.0 15.7-26.5 25.0 21.4 21.5-28.5 4.7-189.2

1998 East 103 32.4 26.1-40.3 34.2 12.0 31.9-36.6 6.6-82.6

West 113 15.2 11.6-21.5 37.7 170.8 5.9-69.6 5.4-1814.7

1999 East 68 50.2 39.5-54.6 51.2 20.9 46.2-56.3 7.9-171.3

West 68 30.7 21.1-41.9 42.6 42.9 32.2-53.0 10.9-210.3

Cumulative East 666 40.9 33.4-50.6 70.1 173.9 56.8-83.2 6.6-1952.8

(1982-99) West 584 24.8 16.4-36.4 53.1 161.0 40.0-66.2 4.7-2165.7

1

 trSI = number of transect sightings.

2

 SD = standard deviation.

3

 CI ≥ 95-percent confidence interval (positive values). 4

 Insufficient sample size.
74

Min-Max

25%-75%

Median value

East Region

DISTANCE FROM SHORE (km)

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Min-Max

25%-75%

Median value

West Region

DISTANCE FROM SHORE (km)

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Figure 39. Median Distance from Shore at Random Sightings of Bowhead Whales (September-October),

 by Year and Region, 1982-1999, showing Quartile and Maximum Ranges
75

Min-Max

25%-75%

Median value

East Region

LOG DEPTH (m)

1

1 0

100

1000

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Min-Max

25%-75%

Median value

West Region

LOG DEPTH (m)

1

1 0

100

1000

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Figure 40. Median Water Depth at Random Sightings of Bowhead Whales (September-October),

 by Year and Region, 1982-1999, showing Quartile and Maximum Ranges
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Harrison Bay

U.S.A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

Alaska Pt.

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

West Region

East Region

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 41. Fall Bowhead Whale Sightings on Transect (1998), Showing Mean Distance from a Normalized Shoreline

Analysis RegionNormalized Shore

 Bowhead Whale Sighting

Mean Distance from Normalized ShorelineOne Standard Deviation from Mean Distance
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U.S.A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

Alaska Pt.

CapeHalkett

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Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

West Region

East Region

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Figure 42. Fall Bowhead Whale Sightings on Transect (1999), Showing Mean Distance from a Normalized Shoreline

Analysis RegionNormalized Shore

 Bowhead Whale Sighting

Mean Distance from Normalized ShorelineOne Standard Deviation from Mean Distance
78

East Region

The Tukey test showed that bowheads in 1983 migrated significantly (p<0.05) farther offshore than in any

other year except 1989. The data also showed that whales in 1989 were significantly farther offshore, and in

1997 were significantly nearer to shore, than for most (>10) other years. The mean for East Region whales

in 1998 (Fig. 41) was significantly nearer to shore than in 1999 (Fig. 42).

West Region

The Tukey test showed that in 1983, 1988, 1991, and 1992, bowheads migrated significantly (p<0.05)

farther offshore than for most (>10) other years. Whales in 1997 and 1998 migrated significantly (p<0.05)

nearer to shore than for many (>8) other years and were nearer to shore in 1998 than in other years (1982-

1999). The mean for West Region whales in 1998 (Fig. 41) was significantly nearer to shore than in 1999

(Fig. 42).

B. General Ice Cover (1979-1999)

General ice coverage along the northern coast of Alaska during the 1998 navigation season was the thirdmildest for the 47 years from 1953 through 1999 and showed the greatest distance (240 nm) from Point

Barrow northward to the boundary of 5-tenths ice concentration on 15 September. Ice cover during 1999

was the 18th mildest (USDOC, NOAA, National Ice Center/USDOD, Navy, Naval Ice Center, 2000).

The years 1980, 1983, 1988, and 1991 were categorized as having “heavy” ice cover during the navigation

season. These 4 years are ranked as having the severest seasonal ice for the years 1979 through 1999

and showed distances ranging from 10 to 25 nm between Point Barrow and the five-tenths ice concentration

on 15 September (USDOC, NOAA, National Ice Center/USDOD, Navy, Naval Ice Center, 2000).

The years 1984, 1985, and 1992, categorized as having “moderate” ice cover during the open-water season,

are ranked next in seasonal ice severity for the years 1979 through 1999 and showed distances ranging

from 50 to 75 nm between Point Barrow and the five-tenths ice concentration on 15 September (USDOC,

NOAA, National Ice Center/USDOD, Navy, Naval Ice Center, 2000).

The years 1979, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, and 1993-1999, categorized as having “light” ice

cover during the open-water season, are ranked as having the least-severe seasonal ice for the years 1979

through 1999 and showed distances ranging from 50 to 240 nm between Point Barrow and the five-tenths

ice concentration on 15 September (USDOC, NOAA, National Ice Center/USDOD, Navy, Naval Ice Center,

2000). The recent seven years of unbroken light ice coverage (1993-1999) based on these criteria were not

inconsistent with recently hypothesized global and/or cyclical warming.

General ice cover may affect the distance from shore and the water depth at which bowhead whales migrate

in the fall. The years with heavy and medium ice cover (1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1991, and 1992)

account for the highest median values shown for the West Region (Table 12 and Figs. 39-40). It is in the

West Region that the distances from Point Barrow to five-tenths ice concentrations were estimated

(USDOC, NOAA, National Ice Center/USDOD, Navy, Naval Ice Center, 2000). It is also where all six of the

median distances greater than 42 km and the median water depths greater than 35 m correspond with

heavy or medium ice years, thus suggesting that bowheads may migrate farther offshore and in deeper

water in icier years. Conversely, the extremely small median distance from shore and median water depth

at bowhead sightings in Fall 1998 in the West Region would be consistent with a tendency for bowheads to

migrate closer to shore and in shallower water during years of light general ice cover.

C. Key Results Summary (1979-1999)

3⁄4 General ice severity along the northern coast of Alaska during the 1998 and 1999 navigation seasons

was the third mildest and eighteenth mildest, respectively, in the Arctic Ocean for the 47 years from

1953 through 1999 (USDOC, NOAA, National Ice Center/USDOD, Navy, Naval Ice Center, 2000).
79

3⁄4 The annual total of 180.64 survey hours for 1998 was the second highest for the MMS surveys (1987-

1999), considerably higher than the mean of 130.63 hours (SD=36.47, n=13) for those same years.

3⁄4 The 383 sightings for a total of 1,045 individual bowhead whales in Fall 1998 was the second-highest

number for the 13 MMS project surveys (1987-1999), much higher than the 417 annual mean for whales

(SD=455, n=13). As in 1997 (n=1,655), the high count in 1998 likely resulted from favorable open-water

conditions along with the potential for some repeat counting between days of large aggregations of

feeding and/or milling whales that appeared to remain in the same general area for several days.

3⁄4 There were many feeding bowheads in 1997 and 1998 compared with other years (1987-1999). The

many feeders in Fall 1997 were likely linked to a greater availability of prey species, possibly associated

with a narrow band of warmer-than-average sea-surface temperatures (Treacy, 1998). Feeding

bowheads in 1998 were observed within 20 nm of shore between 149°W. and 156°W. longitudes. On

19 September 1998, several large groups of bowhead whales were observed feeding near 71°10.0' N.,

between 154°31.0' W. and 155°21.8' W., further confirming the importance of the area east of Barrow

as an occasional feeding area.

3⁄4 In 1998, the first bowheads observed were on 31 August. Sighting rates were fairly level over the field

season, with higher values on 18 September, 28 September, and 30 September. The data on daily

relative abundance showed that the peak (mode) of the bowhead migration occurred on 19 September

and the midpoint (median) occurred on 22 September. The last sighting of a bowhead in 1998 was

made on 26 October.

3⁄4 In 1999, the first bowheads observed were on 3 September. Sighting rates were fairly level over the

field season, with higher values on 11 September, 16 September, and 21 October. The data on daily

relative abundance showed that the midpoint of the bowhead migration occurred on 17 October and the

peak occurred on 18 October. The last sighting of a bowhead in 1999 was made on 22 October.

3⁄4 The relatively small median distances from shore and median water depths at bowhead sightings in Fall

1998 and 1999 in the West Region are consistent with a tendency for bowheads to migrate closer to

shore and in shallower water during years of light general ice cover.

3⁄4 The parametric ANOVA for distance from shore showed strongly significant differences among years in

both regions.

3⁄4 The parametric Tukey HSD test showed that in the East Region, bowhead whales in 1983 were

migrating significantly farther offshore than in any other year except 1989. East Region whales in 1989

were significantly farther offshore, and in 1997 were significantly nearer to shore, than for most other

years. In the West Region, bowheads in 1983, 1988, 1991, and 1992 migrated significantly farther

offshore than for most other years. West Region whales in 1997 and 1998 migrated significantly nearer

to shore than for many other years and were nearer to shore in 1998 than in other years (1982-1999). 

The mean for both East and West Region bowheads in 1998 was significantly nearer to shore than in

1999.

3⁄4 The number of individual ringed seals sighted incidentally in Fall 1999 (n=1,325), was much higher than

for any previous year (1982-1998).

3⁄4 Other results of the present study are generally within the range of result values from previous

MMS-funded endangered-whale monitoring conducted during September and October (1979-1997) in

the Beaufort Sea using similar survey methods (Ljungblad et al., 1987; Moore and Clarke, 1992; Treacy,

1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998).
81

VI. DISCUSSION

A. Management Use of Real-Time Field Information

The MMS issues various types of permits to industry for gas and oil exploration, including vessel

geophysical permits for on-water exploration using an array of deep-seismic airguns; vessel geologicalgeophysical permits for shallow-seismic exploration using an airgun; on-ice geophysical permits using

VIBROSEIS technology; both vessel and on-ice geological permits for obtaining core samples; and permits

to drill for gas and oil.

From 24 July through 11 October 1998, Western Geophysical conducted open-water seismic in the central

Alaskan Beaufort Sea using Ocean Bottom Cable (OBC). During winter-spring of 1998-1999, one over-ice

seismic program was proposed for the offshore Beaufort Sea but was canceled. During summer 1999,

there was one OBC 3-D marine-seismic program in the central Beaufort Sea. Only portions of the survey

were completed due to the presence of sea ice early in the season and, after 1 September, a moratorium on

seismic activity during ongoing whaling operations. During winter-spring of 1999-2000, two over-ice seismic

programs proposed for the offshore Beaufort Sea area were canceled because of thick ice conditions and

difficulties in implementing regulatory restrictions regarding ringed seals.

In general, to prevent potential operational effects on subsistence whaling, any geophysical-vessel

explorations permitted during the fall follow stringent restrictions—including a provision to stop seismic

operations when whales are visible from the vessel—as the bowhead whale migration progresses through

the area of operations. For any explorations that occur during the fall, daily summaries of survey information

are transferred from the field to Anchorage for use by MMS Resource Evaluation and by NMFS in

implementing area-wide permit restrictions on high-energy seismic operations during the whale migration.

There were no drilling operations, with associated helicopter and vessel support, in the Beaufort Sea in 1998

or 1999. In general, during any fall drilling operations, daily summaries of field information from this survey,

and other arctic surveys being conducted concurrently, are transferred by the MMS Team Leader to MMS

Field Operations in Anchorage. The MMS and NMFS review daily reports to determine the distributional

patterns of bowheads in the vicinity of oil-and-gas-industry activities and the timing of the bowhead whale

migration, especially the “end of the migration” past any drill sites.

The sighting data are typically used by management groups to monitor the progress of the overall fall

migration of bowhead whales across the Alaskan Beaufort Sea and to determine the position of their overall

migratory corridor relative to shore. Project ice and weather data were also transmitted daily to the

National/Naval Ice Center and National Weather Service for use in ground-truthing satellite imagery.

B. Management Use of Interannual Monitoring

The MMS bowhead whale monitoring began in 1979 and has continued every year up to the present. While

some aspects of this study have been updated from time to time, the data recorded have remained

remarkably parallel (especially data from 1982-1999), thus permitting many one-to-one comparisons

between years. Such continuous, long-term, wide-area, aerial monitoring of a large whale migration is

indeed unique.

In addition to the use of real-time information by both MMS and NMFS when documenting the progress of

endangered bowhead whales past offshore drilling and seismic exploration operations (see Section VI.A.

above), the project has been helpful to managers in other ways. Some notable examples are:

3⁄4 providing raw data to all parties (MMS, Western Geophysical, NMFS, ARCO Alaska, Inc., and AEWC) at

an Oil/Whalers Agreement Post Season Meeting on 18 December 1990 to determine whether the Fall

1990 bowhead migration had been temporarily blocked due to seismic exploration activities;

3⁄4 providing all parties with annual reports from which data were subsequently cited in a declaration to a

lawsuit in 1993 (AEWC et al. vs. Dr. Nancy Foster et al., Civil Action No. 93-1629 HHG) on the effects of

Kuvlum drilling and seismic exploration operations on the bowhead migration corridor;
82

3⁄4 providing upstream, offshore, and downstream sighting-and-effort data in order to enhance sample

sizes of many site-specific studies looking at the potential effects of oil-industry activity on bowhead

whale migrations;

3⁄4 documenting geographic areas, especially migration corridors and feeding areas, used by whales on an

annual basis. Such data from previous surveys continue to be used by MMS in writing Environmental

Impact Statements and Environmental Assessments and in interpreting the results of site-specific

studies.

To support future management usages, we anticipate improving our monitoring program by:

3⁄4 providing additional survey coverage in areas of marine industrial activity, potential feeding areas, and/or

whaling concerns;

3⁄4 focusing more on parametric analyses of distance from shore (for which we have a power analysis) than

on nonparametric analyses of water depth;

3⁄4 comparing migration timing of non-feeding bowheads past a small representative area;

3⁄4 addressing the potential for autocorrelation on existing analyses;

3⁄4 performing additional power analyses and making survey-effort adjustments as needed to detect smaller

shifts in the migratory corridor;

3⁄4 performing a fuller analysis of distance from shore and water depth at bowhead sightings relative to

general ice cover;

3⁄4 adding other analyses applicable to future management issues; and

3⁄4 deleting analyses from the monitoring report that are expected to have limited future relevance.

The NMFS Administrator, Alaska Region, (letter dated 22 December 1998) commended MMS information

support to NMFS: “The BWASP has provided a critical element in our ability to evaluate the effects of

development in the Beaufort Sea on the bowhead whale. Additionally, the Minerals Management Service

has demonstrated the flexibility and willingness to allow this program to compliment and extend projectspecific monitoring required for authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (Incidental

Harassment Authorizations). The combined information of these efforts has greatly extended our

knowledge and facilitated conflict avoidance agreements. These agreements have allowed oil and gas

activities to go forward while minimizing interference with traditional Native subsistence hunting. We have

found BWASP statistical analysis and data presentation to be very useful in assessing potential impacts

within the Beaufort Sea.”

C. Conclusions

In 1998, day-to-day observations showed that many groups of bowhead whales appeared to pause for

several days at various sites along the migration route while feeding. Other than these feeding bouts, we

saw no indications that the migration was “stopped” in either 1998 or 1999, including areas near or just east

of seismic 1998 exploration activities by Western Geophysical.

Oil industry studies, pooling our data with their own site-specific data, have detected localized deflections on

the order of 10 to 20 km by bowhead whales in the immediate vicinity of certain types of active seismic

exploration (USDOI, MMS, 1997b). Since preliminary power analysis of the ANOVA for distance of

bowhead whales from shore (α=0.05, β≤0.01) showed minimum detectable differences of 7.8 km in the East

Region and 9.7 km in the West (Treacy, 1998), we should be able to detect any region-wide 10- to 20-km

shifts between years that may have derived from localized deflections. The Tukey HSD test of BWASP

randomized bowhead sightings showed that the mean migration region-wide in Fall 1998 was significantly

closer to shore in the both East and West Regions than in 1999, a year with no offshore seismic exploration

or drilling activity during the fall season in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea.

To some extent, general ice cover, which includes shorefast ice, appears to influence the distance from

shore and the water depth at which bowhead whales migrate. Insofar as 1998 was the third-mildest in the

Arctic Ocean over the last 47 years, sea ice had little direct effect during that whale migration. However, the

relatively small median distances from shore and small median water depths at bowhead sightings in both
83

regions in Fall 1998 are consistent with a tendency for bowheads to migrate closer to shore and in shallower

water during years of light general ice cover.

D. Field Coordination and Information Support

During the field seasons, we coordinated with the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC), Barrow,

Alaska; the Western Geophysical site-specific aerial survey team; Whalers Communication Center,

Deadhorse, Alaska; NMFS, Anchorage, Alaska; and NSB, Department of Wildlife Management, Barrow,

Alaska. Accompanying the project and actively participating during Fall 1998 was Paul Stang, MMS

Regional Supervisor, Leasing and Environment (Flight 21).

Selected BWASP information-support activities during calendar 1998 and/or 1999 included:

3⁄4 providing data summaries to requesting agencies and private-sector organizations in support of:

(a) a draft Environmental Assessment for the Liberty Project,

(b) the final Environmental Impact Statement for Northstar;

(c) environmental sensitivity maps of the Beaufort Sea,

(d) State of Alaska “Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale: Beaufort Sea 1999”,

(e) analysis of polar bear distribution by Fish and Wildlife Service, and

(f) MMS Leasing Activities Section relative to Sale 176.

3⁄4 exchanging information with site-specific studies monitoring marine mammals in the presence of

seismic activities in the central Alaskan Beaufort Sea, thereby increasing their sample size, especially in

areas farther upstream, offshore, and downstream of seismic operations;

3⁄4 presenting a paper on BWASP at the MMS Information Transfer Meeting, Anchorage, Alaska, on 19

January 1999 (http://www.mms.gov/omm/alaska/ess);

3⁄4 participating in annual interagency evaluations (with NMFS, NSB, AEWC) on BP Exploration (Alaska)’s

and Western Geophysical’s site-specific planned and reported monitoring of marine mammals near

seismic operations;

3⁄4 contributing information on BWASP to a journal article on the Alaska Environmental Studies Program

submitted to Arctic Research of the United States;

3⁄4 providing data to and coordinating with scientists and subsistence whalers in support of the MMS study

“Bowhead Whale Feeding in the Eastern Alaskan Beaufort Sea: Update of Scientific and Traditional

Information”;

3⁄4 providing BWASP beluga whale sightings in support of the MMS study “Tagging and Satellite Tracking

of Bowhead and Belukha Whales”;

3⁄4 providing BWASP 1992 data to Mr. Robert Schick, Duke University, as a basis for a Master’s Thesis on

spatial analysis of bowhead sightings relative to environmental factors;

3⁄4 contributing information used in “The Year of the Ocean” and “Volunteers Monitor Endangered

Bowhead Whales” in the December/January 1998 and October 1998 issues, respectively, of People,

Land & Water;

3⁄4 contributing text for “BWASP Team Involved in Rescue Mission” and “BWASP Flies Again”, articles in

MMS Today (Vol. 8, Number 1, Winter 1998);

3⁄4 contributing information used in “MMS Dives into Better Whale Tracking”, article in Federal Computer

Week (4 May 1998; http://www.fcw.com);

3⁄4 contributing information used on the MMS Alaska OCS Region Environmental Studies Section home

page ” (http://www.mms.gov/omm/alaska/ess); and

3⁄4 contributing information used in a MMS Focus Sheet “Bowhead Whales and Oil-Industry Noise”.
85

VII. LITERATURE CITED

Aagaard, K. 1984. The Beaufort Undercurrent. In: The Alaskan Beaufort Sea: Ecosystems and

Environment. P.W. Barnes, D.M. Schell, and E. Reimnitz (eds.). Academic Press., pp. 47-71.

Brower, W.A., R.G. Baldwin, C.N. Williams, J.L. Wise, and L.D. Leslie. 1988. Climatic Atlas of the Outer

Continental Shelf Waters and Coastal Regions of Alaska, Volume III. OCS Study MMS 87-0013. 

USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 524 pp.

Chapman, C.F. 1971. Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling. New York, NY: Hearst Books, 640

pp.

Cochran, W.G. 1963. Sampling Techniques. New York, NY: J. Wiley, 413 pp.

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. 16 USC 1531-1543.

Houghton, J.P., D.A. Segar, and J.E. Zeh. 1984. Beaufort Sea Monitoring Program. In: Proceedings of a

Workshop (September 1983) and Sampling Design Recommendations. Prepared by Dames and Moore,

Seattle, WA, for the OCS Environmental Assessment Program, Juneau, AK, 111 pp.

Johnson, M.A., A.Y. Proshutinsky, and I.V. Polakov. 1999. Atmospheric Patterns Forcing Two Regimes of

Arctic Circulation: A Return to Anticyclonic Conditions? Geophys. Res. Lett 26: 1621-1624.

LaBelle, J.C., J.L. Wise, R.P. Voelker, R.H. Schulze, and G.M. Wohl. 1983. Alaska Marine Ice Atlas. Arctic

Environmental Information and Data Center, University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, 302 pp.

Landino, S.W., S.D. Treacy, S.A. Zerwick, and J.B. Dunlap. 1994. A Large Aggregation of Bowhead

Whales (Balaena mysticetus) Feeding near Point Barrow, Alaska, in Late October 1992. Arctic 47 (3):

232-235.

LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc. 1987. Importance of the Eastern Alaskan Beaufort Sea to

Feeding Bowhead Whales, 1985-86, W.J. Richardson, ed. OCS Study MMS 87-0037. Prepared for

USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region.

Ljungblad, D.K., S.E. Moore, and J.T. Clarke. 1986. Assessment of Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)

Feeding Patterns in the Alaskan Beaufort and Northeastern Chukchi Seas via Aerial Surveys, Fall 1979-

84. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. 36 (SC/37/PS1): 265-272.

Ljungblad, D.K., S.E. Moore, J.T. Clarke, and J.C. Bennett. 1987. Distribution, Abundance, Behavior and

Bioacoustics of Endangered Whales in the Alaskan Beaufort and Eastern Chukchi Seas, 1979-86. OCS

Study MMS 87-0039. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 391 pp.

Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. 16 USC 1361-1407.

Moore, S.E. and J.T. Clarke. 1992. Distribution, Abundance and Behavior of Endangered Whales in the

Alaskan Chukchi and Western Beaufort Seas, 1991: With a Review 1982-91. OCS Study MMS 92-

0029. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 211 pp.

Moore, S.E. and D.P. DeMaster. 1997. Cetacean Habitats in the Alaskan Arctic. J. NW Atlantic Fish. Sci.

22: 55-69.

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. 42 USC 4321-4347.

Norton, D. and G. Weller. 1984. The Beaufort Sea: Background, History, and Perspective. In: The

Alaskan Beaufort Sea, P. Barnes, D. Schell, and E. Reimnitz, eds. Orlando, FL: Academic Press, Inc.,

466 pp.
86

Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, as amended in 1978. 43 USC 1331-1356 and 1801-1866.

Proshutinsky and Johnson. 1997. Two Circulation Regimes of the Wind-driven Arctic Ocean. Journal of

Geophysical Research 102(C6):12493-12514.

Rice, D.W. 1998. Marine Mammals of the World: Systematics and Distribution. Special Publication

Number 4. The Society for Marine Mammalogy. 231 pp.

Treacy, S.D. 1988. Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 1987. OCS Study

MMS 88-0030. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 141 pp.

Treacy, S.D. 1989. Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 1988. OCS Study

MMS 89-0033. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 101 pp.

Treacy, S.D. 1990. Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 1989. OCS Study

MMS 90-0047. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 104 pp.

Treacy, S.D. 1991. Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 1990. OCS Study

MMS 91-0055. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 107 pp.

Treacy, S.D. 1992. Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 1991. OCS Study

MMS 92-0017. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 92 pp.

Treacy, S.D. 1993. Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 1992. OCS Study

MMS 93-0023. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 135 pp.

Treacy, S.D. 1994. Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 1993. OCS Study

MMS 94-0032. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 132 pp.

Treacy, S.D. 1995. Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 1994. OCS Study

MMS 95-0033. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 116 pp.

Treacy, S.D. 1996. Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 1995. OCS Study

MMS 96-0006. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 120 pp.

Treacy, S.D. 1997. Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 1996. OCS Study

MMS 97-0016. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 115 pp.

Treacy, S.D. 1998. Aerial Surveys of Endangered Whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 1997. OCS Study

MMS 98-0059. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 143 pp.

USDOC, NOAA, NMFS. 1982. Endangered Species Act, Section 7 Consultation - Biological Opinion, Oil

and Gas Lease Sale 71 (Diapir Field). 19 May 1982. Washington, D.C.

USDOC, NOAA, NMFS. 1983. Endangered Species Act, Section 7 Consultation - Biological Opinion, Oil

and Gas Leasing and Exploration - Diapir Field Lease Offering (Sale 87). 19 December 1983. 

Washington, D.C.

USDOC, NOAA, NMFS. 1987. Endangered Species Act, Section 7 Consultation - Biological Opinion, Oil

and Gas Leasing and Exploration - Beaufort Sea Sale 97. 20 May 1987. Washington, D.C.

USDOC, NOAA, NMFS. 1988. Endangered Species Act, Section 7 Consultation - Biological Opinion, Oil

and Gas Leasing and Exploration - Arctic Region. 23 November 1988. Washington, D.C.
87

USDOC, NOAA, National Geophysical Data Center. 1988. Data Announcement 88-MGG-02, Digital Relief

of the Surface of the Earth, Boulder, CO.

USDOC, NOAA, National Ice Center/USDOD, Navy, Naval Ice Center. 1997. Seasonal Outlook, Sea Ice

Conditions for the Alaskan North Coast, Summer 1997. Washington, D.C., 5 pp.

USDOD, Navy, Naval Hydrographic Office. 1956. Aerial Ice Reconnaissance and Functional Glossary of

Ice Terminology. Hydrographic Office Publication No. 609, 14 pp.

USDOI, MMS. 1979. State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources; Federal/State Joint Beaufort Sea

Oil and Gas Lease Sale BF, November 7, 1979 (44 FR 64752).

USDOI, MMS. 1982. Memorandum from Director, BLM, to Secretary of the Interior, dated 30 April 1982;

subject: Decision on the Modification of the Seasonal Drilling Restriction.

USDOI, MMS. 1984. Outer Continental Shelf, Diapir Field, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 87, July 23, 1984 (49

FR 29726).

USDOI, MMS. 1988. Outer Continental Shelf, Beaufort Sea, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 97, February 12, 1988

(53 FR 4356).

USDOI, MMS. 1991. Outer Continental Shelf Beaufort Sea Oil and Gas Lease Sale 124, May 24, 1991 (56

FR 23966).

USDOI, MMS. 1997. Arctic Seismic Synthesis and Mitigating measures Workshop. OCS Study MMS 97-

0014. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 71 pp. plus appendices.

USDOI, MMS. 1998. Project Management Plan, MMS Fall 1998 Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project,

August 1998. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 14 pp.

USDOI, MMS. 1999. Project Management Plan, MMS Fall 1999 Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project,

August 1999. Anchorage, AK: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 14 pp.

Zar, S.H. 1984. Biostatistical Analysis. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc., 620 pp.
89

APPENDIX A

FALL 1998 ICE CONCENTRATION MAPS FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA
 91 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

72

71

70

69

73

72

158

156

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152

150

148

146

144

142

140

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 28 August 1998
 92 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

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158

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148

146

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142

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158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Seaice as of 9/4/1998

Ice Free1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 4 September 1998
 93 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

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158

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142

140

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse Seaice as of 9/11/1998 Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 11 September 1998
 94 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

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158

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148

146

144

142

158

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152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Hersch Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse Seaice as of 9/18/1998 Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 18 September 1998
 95 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

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7

158

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142

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158

156

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150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse Seaice as of 9/25/1998 Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 25 September 1998
 96 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

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158

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150

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142

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158

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152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse Seaice as of 10/2/1998 Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 2 October 1998
 97 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

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158

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142

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158

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154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse Seaice as of 10/9/1998 Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 9 October 1998
 98 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

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150

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146

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142

140

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik

Seaice as of 10/16/1998 Nuiqsut Deadhorse Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 16 October 1998
 99 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

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158

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150

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142

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158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik

Seaice as of 10/23/1998 Nuiqsut Deadhorse Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 23 October 1998
 100 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

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Y Y Y

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158

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148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik

Seaice as of 10/30/1998 Nuiqsut Deadhorse Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 30 October 1998
 101 

APPENDIX B

FALL 1999 ICE CONCENTRATION MAPS FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA
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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

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140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse Seaice as of 8/27/1999 Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 27 August 1999
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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

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158

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140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse

Seaice as of 9/3/1999

Ice Free1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 3 September 1999
 105 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

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158

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146

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142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse Seaice as of 9/10/1999 Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 10 September 1999
 106 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

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158

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142

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158

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152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse Seaice as of 9/17/1999 Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 17 September 1999
 107 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

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158

156

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152

150

148

146

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142

140

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse Seaice as of 9/24/1999 Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 24 September 1999
 108 

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3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 33 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

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73

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158

156

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150

148

146

144

142

140

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Hersch Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse Seaice as of 10/1/1999 Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 1 October 1999
 109 

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 33 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

72

71

70

69

73

7

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Hersch Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik Nuiqsut Deadhorse Seaice as of 10/8/1999 Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 8 October 1999
 110 

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 33 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

72

71

70

69

73

7

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Hersch Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik

Seaice as of 10/15/1999 Nuiqsut Deadhorse Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 15 October 1999
 111 

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 33 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

72

71

70

69

73

7

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Hersch Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik

Seaice as of 10/22/1999 Nuiqsut Deadhorse Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 22 October 1999
 112 

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 333 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Y

Y Y Y

73

72

71

70

69

73

72

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

158

156

154

152

150

148

146

144

142

140

Harrison Bay

U S. .A.

CANADA

Beaufort Sea

Smith Bay

Camden Bay Demarcation

 Pt. Alaska

CapeHalkett

Herschel Is.

Dease Inlet

Peard Bay

Colville Delta

Oliktok  Pt.

Flaxman Is.

Barrow

Kaktovik

Seaice as of 10/29/1999 Nuiqsut Deadhorse Ice Free

1% - 19%20% - 39%40% - 59%60% - 79%80% - 94%95% - 100%Survey Blocks

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 Kilometers0 30 60 90 120 Miles

Map of Ice Concentrations in the Beaufort Sea, 29 October 1999
113

APPENDIX C

FALL 1998 BOWHEAD WHALE SIGHTING DATA
Table C-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1998

115

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

1 31 Aug 1 0 70o29.9' 146o38.5' swim 270o 0 5

3 3 Sep 1 0 70o46.9' 149o12.8' dive 240o 0 3

4 4 Sep 1 0 70o17.4' 145o34.2' swim 240o 0 2

4 4 Sep 1 0 69o52.9' 140o03.6' tail slap 40o 0 2

4 4 Sep 2 0 69o54.8' 140o04.4' swim 260o 0 2

4 4 Sep 1 0 69o55.7' 140o04.8' swim 230o 0 2

4 4 Sep 1 0 70o17.6' 140o43.5' swim 210o 0 2

4 4 Sep 2 0 70o11.9' 140o41.7' tail slap 1 0 2

4 4 Sep 1 0 69o58.0' 140o36.7' swim 1 0 3

4 4 Sep 1 0 69o54.5' 140o34.8' swim 220o 0 3

4 4 Sep 1 0 70o11.0' 141o49.3' rest 230o 0 2

4 4 Sep 1 0 70o08.4' 142o10.9' breach 290o 0 3

4 4 Sep 2 0 70o23.5' 143o14.8' swim 250o 0 2

4 4 Sep 1 0 70o25.6' 143o14.0' swim 270o 0 2

4 4 Sep 1 0 70o30.4' 143o24.0' swim 240o 0 2

4 4 Sep 1 0 70o12.1' 143o49.6' swim 40o 0 2

6 9 Sep 1 0 70o20.9' 146o37.0' swim 40o 0 3

6 9 Sep 1 0 70o12.1' 140o14.8' swim 320o 0 4

6 9 Sep 1 0 70o11.7' 143o21.1' dive 240o 0 3

6 9 Sep 1 0 70o12.6' 143o21.2' breach 240o 0 3

6 9 Sep 2 0 70o11.7' 143o43.0' swim 1 0 4

6 9 Sep 1 0 70o10.9' 144o28.9' breach 280o 0 3

6 9 Sep 1 0 70o13.5' 144o29.4' breach 1 0 3

7 10 Sep 1 0 70o18.0' 146o43.5' rest 80o 0 3

7 10 Sep 1 0 70o18.5' 146o37.2' dive 60o 0 3

7 10 Sep 1 0 70o18.6' 146o35.9' rest 260o 0 3

7 10 Sep 1 0 70o17.9' 145o48.2' rest 30o 0 4

7 10 Sep 1 0 70o13.5' 144o07.8' rest 200o 0 2

7 10 Sep 1 0 70o09.8' 145o14.1' dive 1 0 4

7 10 Sep 1 0 70o18.9' 145o15.6' swim 240o 0 4

8 10 Sep 1 0 70o58.2' 152o22.6' swim 1 0 5

8 10 Sep 1 0 71o03.2' 153o45.8' swim 150o 0 4

8 10 Sep 1 0 71o04.2' 153o46.3' swim 240o 0 4

8 10 Sep 1 0 71o20.0' 152o32.1' swim 240o 0 5

9 11 Sep 4 0 69o50.2' 140o04.7' swim 240o 0 1

9 11 Sep 1 0 69o51.8' 140o04.9' swim 180o 0 1

9 11 Sep 2 0 69o55.9' 140o06.8' swim 270o 0 1

9 11 Sep 1 0 69o51.8' 140o44.7' swim 250o 0 2

9 11 Sep 3 0 69o50.7' 140o46.4' swim 1 0 2

9 11 Sep 1 0 69o51.3' 140o46.8' swim 210o 0 2

9 11 Sep 2 0 69o46.9' 140o43.5' swim 1 0 2

9 11 Sep 1 0 69o44.6' 140o44.8' log play 270o 0 2
Table C-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1998

116

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

9 11 Sep 4 0 69o54.9' 141o14.2' swim 260o 0 2

9 11 Sep 1 0 69o54.9' 141o12.9' swim 250o 0 2

9 11 Sep 1 0 69o56.8' 141o14.2' swim 240o 0 2

9 11 Sep 1 0 70o04.2' 141o13.8' dive 1 0 2

10 12 Sep 2 0 70o14.7' 146o05.9' swim 30o 0 3

10 12 Sep 1 0 70o21.4' 146o35.1' swim 100o 0 3

10 12 Sep 1 0 70o18.6' 146o35.3' rest 300o 0 3

11 12 Sep 2 0 71o07.8' 153o34.0' swim 140o 0 3

11 12 Sep 1 0 71o00.8' 152o15.2' swim 90o 0 2

11 12 Sep 1 0 71o00.2' 152o15.0' swim 240o 0 2

11 12 Sep 6 0 70o59.3' 152o14.5' swim 240o 0 2

11 12 Sep 1 0 70o55.4' 152o13.2' swim 240o 0 2

11 12 Sep 1 0 70o52.4' 152o12.8' swim 1 0 2

11 12 Sep 1 0 70o53.7' 151o49.2' swim 200o 0 2

11 12 Sep 4 0 70o56.9' 151o49.2' feed 1 0 2

11 12 Sep 1 0 70o52.5' 149o40.6' swim 300o 0 3

12 13 Sep 2 0 70o55.3' 152o09.1' feed 1 0 1

12 13 Sep 2 0 70o56.8' 152o12.0' swim 230o 0 1

12 13 Sep 1 0 70o57.1' 152o12.6' swim 1 0 1

12 13 Sep 1 0 70o57.4' 152o13.2' swim 100o 0 1

12 13 Sep 1 0 71o18.6' 154o24.0' swim 160o 0 3

12 13 Sep 1 0 71o18.6' 154o27.7' swim 180o 0 3

12 13 Sep 1 0 71o27.0' 156o45.0' swim 360o 0 5

12 13 Sep 7 0 71o21.7' 156o01.1' swim 330o 0 4

12 13 Sep 1 0 71o17.8' 155o41.2' breach 330o 0 3

12 13 Sep 1 0 71o16.4' 155o24.9' dive 150o 0 4

12 13 Sep 1 0 71o14.2' 155o25.1' swim 360o 0 4

12 13 Sep 2 0 71o10.3' 155o04.2' mill 1 0 3

12 13 Sep 21 2 71o10.3' 154o52.4' mill 1 0 3

12 13 Sep 1 0 71o12.0' 154o45.5' dive 300o 0 3

12 13 Sep 2 0 71o13.4' 154o46.6' dive 260o 0 3

12 13 Sep 1 0 71o00.4' 152o50.1' swim 330o 0 2

12 13 Sep 1 0 70o57.9' 152o14.5' swim 320o 0 2

12 13 Sep 1 0 70o57.6' 152o14.4' swim 330o 0 2

12 13 Sep 1 0 70o57.1' 152o14.2' swim 330o 0 2

12 13 Sep 3 0 70o58.3' 152o17.9' mill 1 0 2

12 13 Sep 4 0 70o54.9' 152o14.2' rest 1 0 2

12 13 Sep 1 0 70o36.1' 151o01.3' swim 240o 0 2

13 14 Sep 1 0 70o28.5' 147o27.4' swim 300o 0 1

13 14 Sep 1 0 70o17.4' 146o04.8' swim 240o 0 2

13 14 Sep 1 0 70o19.3' 146o05.5' swim 240o 0 2

13 14 Sep 1 0 70o30.0' 146o37.0' swim 280o 0 2
Table C-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1998

117

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

13 14 Sep 1 0 70o20.6' 146o34.3' swim 170o 0 2

13 14 Sep 1 0 70o25.8' 147o03.8' swim 30o 0 2

13 14 Sep 2 0 70o34.8' 147o42.5' swim 330o 0 2

13 14 Sep 1 0 70o39.5' 148o19.3' swim 250o 0 2

13 14 Sep 1 0 70o43.8' 148o43.0' swim 240o 0 2

13 14 Sep 1 0 70o43.6' 148o41.9' swim 240o 0 2

13 14 Sep 1 0 70o59.7' 149o23.1' swim 220o 0 4

13 14 Sep 1 0 71o00.6' 150o08.3' swim 270o 0 4

14 15 Sep 1 0 69o56.2' 141o14.6' swim 270o 0 3

14 15 Sep 1 0 69o55.2' 141o11.1' swim 270o 0 3

14 15 Sep 1 0 69o55.1' 140o12.8' swim 240o 0 3

14 15 Sep 1 0 69o54.8' 140o14.7' tail slap 1 0 3

14 15 Sep 1 0 69o59.8' 140o43.5' swim 300o 0 2

14 15 Sep 3 0 69o58.3' 141o45.5' swim 270o 0 3

14 15 Sep 1 0 70o07.7' 142o46.7' dive 1 0 3

14 15 Sep 1 0 70o10.1' 143o21.4' swim 1 0 3

14 15 Sep 1 0 70o10.7' 143o21.1' swim 270o 0 3

14 15 Sep 1 0 70o10.8' 143o20.2' swim 230o 0 3

14 15 Sep 5 1 70o11.1' 143o28.5' swim 260o 0 3

14 15 Sep 1 0 70o11.2' 143o34.0' swim 230o 0 4

14 15 Sep 1 0 70o10.7' 144o09.6' swim 60o 0 4

14 15 Sep 2 1 70o11.5' 144o09.8' tail slap 40o 0 4

14 15 Sep 1 0 70o16.0' 144o10.2' swim 240o 0 5

15 16 Sep 1 0 71o02.6' 150o24.9' swim 230o 0 4

15 16 Sep 1 0 71o20.6' 152o16.1' rest 240o 0 3

15 16 Sep 1 0 71o58.7' 152o42.9' swim 150o 0 4

15 16 Sep 1 0 71o20.1' 152o55.6' thrash 200o 0 3

15 16 Sep 2 0 71o20.1' 152o56.2' swim 260o 0 3

15 16 Sep 1 0 71o20.1' 152o56.2' swim 260o 0 3

15 16 Sep 1 0 71o20.1' 152o56.2' swim 260o 0 3

15 16 Sep 2 1 71o19.8' 153o14.3' cow with calf 160o 0 3

15 16 Sep 2 0 71o26.2' 153o53.3' swim 270o 0 4

16 17 Sep 1 0 70o22.8' 146o24.6' swim 110o 0 3

16 17 Sep 1 0 70o24.2' 145o45.0' dead 1 0 4

16 17 Sep 1 3, 4 0 70o26.3' 145o43.7' dead 1 0 4

16 17 Sep 1 0 70o27.4' 145o18.5' swim 250o 0 5

16 17 Sep 1 3, 4 0 70o27.4' 145o49.8' dead 1 0 4

16 17 Sep 1 0 70o21.8' 146o35.7' swim 300o 0 3

16 17 Sep 3 0 70o22.6' 146o41.7' thrash 1 0 3

16 17 Sep 1 0 70o23.3' 146o41.1' swim 1 0 3

16 17 Sep 1 0 70o25.8' 147o08.3' swim 320o 0 3

16 17 Sep 1 0 70o32.0' 147o37.5' swim 10o 0 2
Table C-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1998

118

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

17 18 Sep 2 0 70o19.6' 146o24.0' swim 150o 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 3, 4 0 70o34.3' 146o01.8' dead 1 0 5

17 18 Sep 1 3, 4 0 70o32.5' 146o00.8' dead 1 0 5

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o20.7' 144o32.1' swim 200o 0 4

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o14.9' 143o40.7' dive 80o 0 4

17 18 Sep 1 0 69o57.9' 141o53.5' swim 260o 0 2

17 18 Sep 4 0 69o58.6' 141o50.6' swim 260o 0 2

17 18 Sep 1 0 69o49.4' 140o13.8' swim 30o 0 2

17 18 Sep 3 0 69o57.7' 140o10.5' mill 1 0 2

17 18 Sep 2 0 70o00.4' 140o09.6' mill 1 0 2

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o00.8' 140o06.2' swim 300o 0 2

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o03.0' 140o09.0' swim 320o 0 2

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o01.1' 141o09.0' swim 230o 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o00.6' 141o05.6' swim 240o 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o14.5' 141o52.7' swim 50o 0 3

17 18 Sep 2 0 69o59.8' 141o46.3' mill 1 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 0 69o58.5' 141o48.7' swim 240o 0 3

17 18 Sep 2 0 70o04.9' 142o16.6' mill 1 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o05.3' 142o16.9' swim 320o 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o11.5' 143o03.1' thrash 90o 0 3

17 18 Sep 2 0 70o12.4' 143o38.6' swim 200o 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o11.7' 144o20.1' swim 240o 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o21.0' 144o14.8' swim 150o 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o16.8' 144o46.8' swim 350o 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o09.9' 144o43.8' swim 230o 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o11.5' 145o12.4' dive 250o 0 2

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o14.0' 145o14.1' swim 240o 0 2

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o19.0' 145o40.7' thrash 1 0 4

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o16.9' 145o39.7' swim 240o 0 4

17 18 Sep 2 1 70o13.4' 145o38.2' cow with calf 210o 0 3

17 18 Sep 2 0 70o11.0' 145o38.3' swim 260o 0 3

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o09.9' 145o38.5' swim 60o 0 3

17 18 Sep 3 0 70o14.0' 145o45.1' swim 240o 0 2

17 18 Sep 2 0 70o16.3' 145o50.2' swim 180o 0 2

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o17.5' 145o55.8' swim 270o 0 2

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o18.5' 145o59.2' dive 270o 0 2

17 18 Sep 4 0 70o21.3' 146o16.5' mill 1 0 2

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o21.7' 146o27.7' swim 210o 0 2

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o21.8' 146o29.6' swim 240o 0 2

17 18 Sep 1 0 70o21.7' 146o42.4' swim 250o 0 2

18 19 Sep 1 4 0 71o26.9' 155o23.0' dead 1 0 3

18 19 Sep 9 0 71o25.7' 155o35.1' mill 1 0 3
Table C-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1998

119

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

18 19 Sep 2 0 71o24.5' 155o38.1' swim 1 0 3

18 19 Sep 1 0 71o24.5' 155o38.1' swim 250o 0 3

18 19 Sep 1 0 71o24.4' 155o40.2' swim 240o 0 3

18 19 Sep 1 3, 4 0 71o18.6' 156o45.7' dead 1 0 2

18 19 Sep 1 0 71o15.2' 155o38.6' swim 60o 0 2

18 19 Sep 1 0 71o28.2' 155o37.0' swim 240o 0 2

18 19 Sep 1 0 71o29.0' 155o37.0' swim 330o 0 2

18 19 Sep 1 0 71o26.2' 155o20.4' swim 270o 0 3

18 19 Sep 16 1 71o15.4' 155o21.8' rest 1 0 3

18 19 Sep 55 6 71o13.1' 155o08.7' feed 1 0 3

18 19 Sep 50 7 71o10.7' 154o53.2' feed 1 0 3

18 19 Sep 21 4 71o09.6' 154o47.9' feed 1 0 3

18 19 Sep 42 8 71o08.0' 154o43.8' feed 1 0 3

18 19 Sep 33 7 71o05.1' 154o36.1' swim 60o 0 3

18 19 Sep 11 0 71o04.1' 154o31.0' swim 60o 0 3

18 19 Sep 1 0 71o07.0' 154o12.3' dive 180o 0 2

19 20 Sep 2 0 70o19.9' 146o27.8' breach 330o 0 O

19 20 Sep 1 3 0 70o18.3' 146o30.5' breach 310o 0 O

19 20 Sep 1 0 70o20.6' 146o30.5' swim 240o 0 O

19 20 Sep 1 0 70o21.1' 146o30.5' swim 270o 0 O

19 20 Sep 1 0 70o22.6' 146o31.0' swim 220o 0 O

19 20 Sep 2 0 70o30.2' 147o15.8' swim 260o 0 1

19 20 Sep 2 0 70o29.7' 147o15.8' mill 1 0 1

19 20 Sep 1 0 70o41.3' 147o45.3' rest 60o 0 1

19 20 Sep 1 0 70o48.4' 148o08.1' unknown 1 0 1

19 20 Sep 2 0 70o48.1' 148o08.2' swim 250o 0 1

19 20 Sep 3 0 70o47.9' 148o08.3' swim 250o 0 1

19 20 Sep 1 0 70o44.3' 148o09.5' rest 250o 0 1

19 20 Sep 1 0 70o44.3' 148o09.5' swim 250o 0 1

20 21 Sep 1 0 70o58.0' 151o49.5' swim 180o 0 5

20 21 Sep 2 0 70o50.1' 151o11.0' feed 1 0 6

20 21 Sep 1 0 70o47.3' 151o14.3' dive 60o 0 6

21 22 Sep 1 0 70o29.2' 146o22.1' dive 260o 0 2

21 22 Sep 1 0 70o49.3' 148o40.6' swim 250o 0 2

21 22 Sep 1 0 70o38.5' 149o18.7' feed 260o 0 2

21 22 Sep 1 0 71o02.9' 149o40.8' swim 40o 0 3

21 22 Sep 2 0 70o44.0' 147o44.1' swim 250o 0 2

21 22 Sep 1 0 70o44.7' 147o44.1' swim 280o 0 2

21 22 Sep 1 0 70o26.8' 146o40.7' swim 1 0 2

21 22 Sep 1 0 70o32.1' 146o42.3' rest 360o 0 3

22 26 Sep 5 0 70o12.0' 143o51.8' mill 330o 0 3

22 26 Sep 1 3, 4 0 70o35.4' 146o40.6' dead 1 0 6
Table C-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1998

120

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

23 27 Sep 1 0 70o19.6' 145o44.8' breach 220o 0 5

23 27 Sep 1 0 70o15.8' 144o43.4' breach 230o 0 6

23 27 Sep 1 0 70o14.2' 143o24.2' rest 220o 0 5

23 27 Sep 1 0 70o16.5' 145o54.7' swim 50o 0 4

24 28 Sep 1 0 70o41.8' 151o11.7' swim 340o 0 4

24 28 Sep 1 0 70o43.5' 151o25.0' swim 270o 0 4

24 28 Sep 32 4 70o47.1' 151o53.4' feed 1 0 4

24 28 Sep 1 0 70o50.4' 151o57.7' swim 160o 0 4

24 28 Sep 7 0 70o48.9' 152o00.4' feed 1 0 4

24 28 Sep 25 1 70o50.2' 152o00.6' feed 1 0 4

24 28 Sep 5 0 70o51.7' 152o07.4' feed 1 0 4

24 28 Sep 14 2 70o54.7' 152o18.9' feed 1 0 4

24 28 Sep 1 0 70o55.3' 152o23.5' swim 250o 0 4

24 28 Sep 4 0 70o55.6' 153o21.4' feed 1 0 4

24 28 Sep 1 0 71o04.4' 153o45.3' swim 250o 0 4

24 28 Sep 3 0 71o06.0' 153o44.9' swim 260o 0 4

24 28 Sep 1 0 71o06.5' 153o44.7' swim 60o 0 4

24 28 Sep 1 0 71o09.3' 153o43.6' swim 210o 0 4

24 28 Sep 2 0 70o59.6' 153o21.2' dive 240o 0 4

24 28 Sep 3 0 70o58.3' 153o21.0' mill 1 0 4

24 28 Sep 3 0 71o00.4' 152o46.1' swim 210o 0 4

24 28 Sep 7 0 71o02.1' 152o45.4' mill 1 0 4

24 28 Sep 1 0 71o03.7' 152o44.3' swim 270o 0 4

24 28 Sep 3 0 71o00.5' 152o17.3' swim 30o 0 5

24 28 Sep 1 0 70o58.2' 152o18.3' swim 250o 0 5

24 28 Sep 2 0 70o56.9' 152o18.2' swim 30o 0 5

24 28 Sep 7 0 70o54.4' 152o17.6' feed 1 0 5

24 28 Sep 2 0 70o49.8' 152o13.1' swim 320o 0 4

24 28 Sep 1 0 70o48.1' 151o50.3' tail slap 1 0 4

24 28 Sep 1 0 70o50.9' 151o49.4' swim 270o 0 4

24 28 Sep 1 0 70o53.2' 151o49.6' swim 320o 0 4

24 28 Sep 2 0 70o48.0' 151o11.5' mill 1 0 5

24 28 Sep 3 0 70o47.0' 151o12.0' swim 260o 0 5

24 28 Sep 1 0 70o43.0' 151o13.9' dive 300o 0 5

24 28 Sep 3 0 70o41.8' 151o14.0' swim 1 0 5

24 28 Sep 1 0 70o54.1' 150o48.9' swim 230o 0 5

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o52.1' 151o20.2' swim 260o 0 3

25 30 Sep 3 0 70o52.6' 151o25.6' swim 350o 0 3

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o53.4' 151o34.7' swim 50o 0 3

25 30 Sep 78 7 70o54.1' 151o43.5' feed 1 0 3

25 30 Sep 3 1 70o48.4' 151o45.3' swim 310o 0 3

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o49.9' 151o51.9' swim 340o 0 3
Table C-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1998

121

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

25 30 Sep 7 0 70o50.0' 151o58.2' feed 1 0 3

25 30 Sep 15 2 70o50.8' 152o03.1' feed 1 0 3

25 30 Sep 2 0 70o53.0' 152o07.5' swim 310o 0 3

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o54.4' 152o11.2' swim 280o 0 3

25 30 Sep 3 0 70o55.1' 152o13.6' feed 270o 0 3

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o55.9' 152o16.2' swim 1 0 3

25 30 Sep 6 2 70o56.4' 152o20.6' feed 1 0 3

25 30 Sep 2 0 70o58.8' 152o32.3' swim 260o 0 3

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o59.2' 152o34.8' swim 240o 0 3

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o00.1' 152o40.3' swim 200o 0 3

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o59.5' 152o55.4' swim 250o 0 3

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o00.8' 153o05.5' swim 290o 0 3

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o01.3' 153o08.9' swim 260o 0 3

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o01.5' 153o10.9' swim 210o 0 3

25 30 Sep 3 4 0 71o22.5' 156o25.9' dead 1 0 5

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o34.5' 156o19.8' swim 260o 0 5

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o18.4' 155o32.9' swim 330o 0 5

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o04.0' 153o13.7' swim 230o 0 5

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o02.8' 153o13.0' swim 230o 0 5

25 30 Sep 9 0 71o00.6' 153o11.7' mill 230o 0 5

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o57.7' 153o09.6' swim 230o 0 5

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o56.7' 152o39.5' swim 200o 0 4

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o59.5' 152o41.2' swim 310o 0 4

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o01.7' 152o43.1' swim 310o 0 4

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o02.8' 152o44.1' swim 300o 0 4

25 30 Sep 5 0 70o59.3' 152o07.3' mill 1 0 4

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o57.3' 152o08.1' swim 30o 0 4

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o53.8' 152o09.3' swim 270o 0 4

25 30 Sep 3 0 70o51.0' 152o09.7' rest 210o 0 4

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o47.4' 152o06.3' swim 1 0 4

25 30 Sep 3 0 70o45.8' 152o05.2' swim 1 0 4

25 30 Sep 17 2 70o47.8' 151o55.2' feed 1 0 4

25 30 Sep 7 0 70o52.2' 151o59.2' feed 1 0 4

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o00.0' 151o56.8' dive 310o 0 4

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o51.9' 151o18.9' swim 40o 0 4

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o50.4' 151o19.0' dive 1 0 4

25 30 Sep 1 0 70o48.6' 151o18.8' swim 240o 0 4

25 30 Sep 2 0 70o38.9' 151o18.4' swim 1 0 4

25 30 Sep 8 0 70o38.2' 151o18.1' feed 1 0 4

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o05.9' 150o49.6' dive 260o 0 3

25 30 Sep 1 0 71o09.8' 150o17.2' swim 270o 0 3

26 1 Oct 1 0 69o57.5' 140o17.0' swim 250o 0 3
Table C-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1998

122

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

26 1 Oct 1 0 69o59.6' 141o26.0' rest 230o 0 3

26 1 Oct 2 0 70o01.9' 141o26.3' swim 220o 0 3

28 2 Oct 2 0 70o33.4' 147o11.4' mill 1 0 3

28 2 Oct 1 0 70o47.1' 147o52.8' swim 290o 0 3

29 4 Oct 1 0 70o15.4' 144o57.0' swim 240o 0 3

29 4 Oct 1 0 70o11.1' 143o31.7' swim 340o 0 3

29 4 Oct 1 4 0 70o38.5' 143o12.3' dead 1 0 4

29 4 Oct 2 0 70o14.1' 143o41.8' rest 240o 0 4

29 4 Oct 1 0 70o12.6' 145o19.8' swim 240o 0 3

29 4 Oct 1 0 70o20.5' 145o17.2' swim 320o 0 3

29 4 Oct 2 0 70o12.5' 145o56.2' dive 230o 0 4

29 4 Oct 1 0 70o12.2' 145o57.6' swim 275o 0 4

30 5 Oct 1 0 70o39.9' 150o29.3' swim 260o 0 3

30 5 Oct 1 0 70o41.8' 150o44.7' swim 80o 0 4

30 5 Oct 1 0 70o51.1' 152o00.6' dive 170o 0 5

30 5 Oct 1 0 70o56.1' 152o31.8' swim 250o 0 3

30 5 Oct 1 0 70o57.3' 152o41.4' swim 340o 0 5

30 5 Oct 2 0 71o01.5' 153o21.6' swim 100o 0 2

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o01.7' 153o24.1' swim 240o 0 2

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o02.4' 153o30.3' spy hop 255o 0 2

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o03.9' 153o43.8' swim 258o 0 2

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o06.9' 154o17.8' swim 245o 0 2

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o07.1' 154o22.3' swim 285o 0 2

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o09.2' 154o48.1' rest 30o 0 3

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o10.8' 154o59.7' swim 200o 0 3

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o14.5' 155o22.2' swim 240o 0 4

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o23.6' 155o42.2' swim 290o 0 6

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o26.4' 155o42.0' swim 260o 0 5

30 5 Oct 3 0 71o14.7' 155o09.9' mill 1 0 4

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o14.1' 155o09.9' swim 320o 0 4

30 5 Oct 8 1 71o13.7' 155o09.8' mill 1 0 4

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o07.9' 154o08.5' swim 280o 0 3

30 5 Oct 1 0 71o05.1' 154o08.7' swim 255o 0 3

30 5 Oct 6 0 71o05.4' 153o12.4' swim 220o 0 4

30 5 Oct 2 0 70o56.6' 152o27.5' rest 340o 0 3

32 7 Oct 4 0 70o45.1' 149o15.1' swim 250o 0 2

33 7 Oct 1 0 70o34.1' 147o39.8' swim 190o 0 2

33 7 Oct 1 0 70o34.5' 147o20.4' swim 250o 0 2

33 7 Oct 1 0 70o30.5' 147o21.5' swim 270o 0 2

33 7 Oct 2 0 70o20.8' 146o06.7' mill 140o 0 3

34 8 Oct 2 0 70o13.8' 143o56.9' swim 240o 0 2

34 8 Oct 1 0 70o10.4' 143o12.0' swim 195o 0 2
Table C-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1998

123

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

34 8 Oct 2 0 70o14.6' 144o15.5' swim 240o 0 2

34 8 Oct 1 0 70o14.6' 145o13.8' swim 180o 0 3

34 8 Oct 1 0 70o15.3' 145o13.3' swim 230o 0 3

35 9 Oct 1 0 70o13.0' 143o19.7' swim 240o 0 2

35 9 Oct 1 0 70o13.4' 143o00.0' swim 240o 0 2

35 9 Oct 1 0 70o00.0' 141o42.8' swim 180o 0 2

35 9 Oct 1 0 69o52.9' 140o09.6' swim 230o 0 2

35 9 Oct 1 0 70o01.1' 140o42.7' swim 240o 0 2

35 9 Oct 1 0 70o29.6' 143o59.1' swim 325o 0 4

35 9 Oct 1 0 70o17.2' 143o48.3' swim 240o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 70o45.6' 151o20.9' swim 90o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 70o47.5' 151o29.8' swim 240o 0 4

36 10 Oct 21 0 70o53.1' 151o58.6' feed 240o 0 4

36 10 Oct 21 3 1 70o52.3' 151o57.6' feed 240o 0 4

36 10 Oct 2 0 70o57.1' 152o20.4' swim 60o 0 3

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o03.7' 153o20.9' swim 190o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o13.8' 154o29.6' swim 60o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o20.1' 155o07.8' tail slap 90o 0 4

36 10 Oct 3 0 71o19.2' 155o09.8' swim 70o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o20.9' 155o15.8' swim 70o 0 4

36 10 Oct 2 0 71o21.1' 155o17.3' swim 280o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o21.9' 155o29.3' swim 90o 0 4

36 10 Oct 2 0 71o23.5' 155o44.4' swim 60o 0 4

36 10 Oct 3 0 71o23.5' 155o44.6' swim 60o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o24.9' 155o54.9' swim 360o 0 4

36 10 Oct 3 0 71o25.2' 155o57.6' swim 180o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o26.1' 156o05.0' swim 150o 0 4

36 10 Oct 3 0 71o25.5' 156o34.5' swim 45o 0 4

36 10 Oct 2 0 71o25.4' 156o34.9' swim 45o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o25.1' 156o36.3' swim 180o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o25.0' 156o36.5' swim 360o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o26.2' 155o51.2' swim 90o 0 3

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o36.3' 155o48.0' swim 270o 0 2

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o29.8' 155o12.1' swim 70o 0 3

36 10 Oct 2 0 71o29.0' 154o56.0' swim 210o 0 3

36 10 Oct 1 0 71o19.7' 155o06.5' swim 60o 0 3

36 10 Oct 2 0 71o19.7' 154o07.6' swim 250o 0 5

36 10 Oct 1 0 70o50.5' 151o58.6' swim 180o 0 4

36 10 Oct 1 0 70o48.2' 151o48.7' swim 180o 0 4

37 11 Oct 1 0 70o50.8' 151o20.8' swim 210o 0 5

37 11 Oct 2 0 70o53.2' 151o55.1' swim 240o 0 5

37 11 Oct 1 0 71o12.3' 153o57.2' swim 270o 0 3
Table C-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1998

124

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

37 11 Oct 1 4 0 71o29.0' 152o43.7' dead 20o 0 5

37 11 Oct 1 0 71o36.4' 152o39.8' swim 280o 0 5

37 11 Oct 1 0 70o58.5' 152o13.2' swim 340o 0 2

37 11 Oct 1 0 70o55.0' 152o06.5' mill 200o 0 2

37 11 Oct 2 0 70o43.9' 151o39.6' swim 30o 0 2

37 11 Oct 1 0 70o45.7' 151o38.9' swim 270o 0 2

37 11 Oct 2 0 70o46.9' 151o38.9' swim 120o 0 2

37 11 Oct 1 0 70o47.2' 151o38.9' swim 270o 0 2

37 11 Oct 1 0 70o49.4' 151o39.2' mill 300o 0 2

37 11 Oct 1 0 70o54.9' 151o39.5' swim 30o 0 2

37 11 Oct 2 0 70o57.2' 151o38.7' swim 210o 0 2

37 11 Oct 2 0 71o07.7' 151o02.4' swim 240o 0 3

37 11 Oct 1 0 70o51.8' 151o02.5' swim 210o 0 2

37 11 Oct 1 0 70o48.2' 151o02.0' swim 240o 0 2

37 11 Oct 1 0 71o07.4' 150o52.1' swim 240o 0 2

43 26 Oct 1 0 70o20.5' 144o10.3' swim 250o 0 6

43 26 Oct 1 0 70o06.3' 144o00.9' rest 215o 10 2

1

 Not recorded.

2

 Possible repeat sighting.

3

 Definite repeat sighting (excluded from analyses).

4

 Dead whale (excluded from analyses).
125

APPENDIX D

FALL 1999 BOWHEAD WHALE SIGHTING DATA
Table D-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1999

127

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

4 3 Sep 1 0 70o14.8' 144o00.0' dive 240o 0 2

4 3 Sep 3 0 70o14.7' 143o59.5' mill 150o 0 2

4 3 Sep 1 0 70o14.1' 143o53.7' swim 180o 0 2

4 3 Sep 1 0 70o12.6' 143o40.8' dive 280o 0 2

4 3 Sep 1 0 70o11.8' 143o34.3' swim 180o 0 2

4 3 Sep 1 0 70o15.6' 143o21.1' swim 90o 0 2

4 3 Sep 2 5 0 70o16.3' 143o20.4' swim 90o 0 2

4 3 Sep 1 0 70o14.3' 144o10.1' rest 225o 0 2

4 3 Sep 1 0 70o16.2' 144o12.0' swim 225o 0 2

4 3 Sep 1 0 70o28.2' 144o35.7' swim 120o 0 3

6 6 Sep 1 0 70o48.2' 150o54.3' swim 330o 0 3

6 6 Sep 1 0 70o49.2' 151o17.4' swim 160o 0 3

7 7 Sep 2 0 69o59.7' 140o40.9' swim 120o 0 2

7 7 Sep 1 0 70o00.4' 140o41.1' swim 330o 0 2

7 7 Sep 5 1 70o02.6' 140o42.3' mill 0o 0 2

7 7 Sep 1 0 70o07.6' 141o19.4' swim 220o 0 3

7 7 Sep 3 0 70o06.8' 141o19.1' swim 300o 0 3

7 7 Sep 2 1 70o07.4' 141o20.4' cow with calf 0o 0 3

7 7 Sep 1 0 70o03.7' 141o18.7' rest 60o 0 3

7 7 Sep 2 1 70o17.7' 141o39.5' swim 160o 0 3

7 7 Sep 2 1 70o18.1' 141o39.4' swim 170o 0 3

7 7 Sep 2 0 70o20.5' 142o09.0' unknown 320o 0 3

7 7 Sep 1 0 70o20.1' 142o10.3' swim 0o 0 3

7 7 Sep 1 0 70o20.3' 142o15.4' swim 340o 0 3

7 7 Sep 2 0 70o17.4' 142o09.9' unknown 330o 0 3

7 7 Sep 1 0 70o15.8' 142o10.0' swim 160o 0 3

7 7 Sep 1 0 70o19.7' 143o13.5' swim 350o 0 3

7 7 Sep 1 0 70o16.8' 143o42.2' swim 110o 0 3

7 7 Sep 2 0 70o13.6' 144o08.3' swim 160o 0 1

9 9 Sep 1 0 70o19.3' 144o39.5' breach 350o 0 5

9 9 Sep 2 0 70o18.1' 144o44.2' swim 60o 0 5

11 10 Sep 1 0 70o48.9' 148o18.9' swim 25o 0 2

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o00.3' 140o20.8' unknown 0o 0 2

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o01.0' 140o21.8' swim 180o 0 2

12 11 Sep 1 0 69o58.9' 140o21.5' dive 340o 0 2

12 11 Sep 1 0 69o59.8' 140o21.9' swim 180o 0 2

12 11 Sep 3 0 70o13.5' 140o51.6' swim 190o 0 2

12 11 Sep 2 0 70o09.1' 140o51.3' flipper slap 330o 0 2

12 11 Sep 1 0 69o54.0' 140o47.5' swim 240o 0 2

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o08.1' 141o09.8' swim 160o 0 2

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o09.3' 141o09.2' swim 220o 0 2

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o12.7' 141o07.8' dive 0o 0 2

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o13.1' 141o07.6' swim 150o 0 2
Table D-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1999

128

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o19.7' 141o48.9' swim 220o 0 3

12 11 Sep 2 0 70o15.7' 141o50.7' mill 0o 0 3

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o13.0' 141o50.9' swim 40o 0 3

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o14.4' 141o53.1' unknown 0o 0 3

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o14.5' 141o52.0' swim 0o 0 3

12 11 Sep 2 0 70o12.1' 141o51.1' swim 0o 0 3

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o11.6' 141o51.3' swim 0o 0 3

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o09.5' 142o19.2' swim 320o 0 1

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o20.0' 142o16.4' swim 0o 0 2

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o23.0' 142o17.1' unknown 0o 0 2

12 11 Sep 2 0 70o24.6' 142o31.6' mill 0o 0 4

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o21.9' 142o32.1' dive 240o 0 4

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o19.9' 142o31.9' swim 250o 0 4

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o22.2' 143o17.6' swim 220o 0 3

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o22.7' 143o17.8' swim 140o 0 3

12 11 Sep 1 0 70o19.9' 143o46.9' swim 160o 0 3

13 12 Sep 2 0 70o06.9' 141o23.3' rest 220o 0 3

13 12 Sep 1 0 70o22.8' 141o44.7' swim 70o 0 3

13 12 Sep 1 0 70o17.6' 141o44.5' rest 120o 0 3

14 13 Sep 1 0 70o10.0' 141o30.0' swim 300o 0 3

14 13 Sep 1 0 70o08.4' 141o46.2' swim 180o 0 2

14 13 Sep 2 0 70o09.9' 141o46.7' swim 320o 0 2

14 13 Sep 2 0 70o10.4' 141o46.9' swim 360o 0 2

14 13 Sep 1 0 70o19.4' 141o51.5' swim 330o 0 2

14 13 Sep 1 0 70o19.9' 141o52.1' swim 60o 0 2

14 13 Sep 1 0 70o20.3' 141o52.3' swim 180o 0 2

14 13 Sep 1 0 70o22.9' 142o57.0' rest 0o 0 5

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o23.5' 144o54.3' swim 210o 0 2

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o17.0' 142o36.0' dive 150o 0 4

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o15.3' 142o25.5' swim 180o 0 4

16 16 Sep 2 0 70o09.6' 142o01.2' swim 0o 0 4

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o07.4' 142o06.9' rest 240o 0 4

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o01.3' 141o43.2' swim 60o 0 4

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o00.5' 141o41.1' swim 100o 0 4

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o00.0' 141o39.8' swim 60o 0 4

16 16 Sep 1 0 69o57.5' 141o33.3' unknown 0o 0 4

16 16 Sep 1 0 69o50.8' 141o11.1' swim 280o 0 4

16 16 Sep 1 0 69o51.3' 140o47.7' swim 270o 0 5

16 16 Sep 3 0 70o04.8' 141o33.8' mill 0o 0 6

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o06.0' 141o49.7' swim 210o 0 6

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o25.7' 143o02.6' unknown 0o 0 3

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o26.6' 143o02.2' swim 40o 0 3

16 16 Sep 3 0 70o16.0' 144o17.7' mill 0o 0 2
Table D-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1999

129

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

16 16 Sep 4 0 70o16.0' 144o17.7' mill 0o 0 2

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o16.1' 144o17.5' swim 60o 0 2

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o20.2' 144o43.4' swim 50o 0 3

16 16 Sep 1 0 70o42.2' 146o35.3' swim 360o 0 3

17 17 Sep 2 0 70o28.2' 143o56.6' swim 210o 0 2

17 17 Sep 1 0 70o27.4' 143o54.7' dive 210o 0 2

17 17 Sep 1 0 70o18.7' 144o22.7' swim 240o 0 2

17 17 Sep 2 0 70o13.6' 144o42.6' swim 360o 0 2

17 17 Sep 1 0 70o40.8' 146o19.1' rest 230o 0 4

17 17 Sep 1 0 70o34.1' 146o47.3' dive 240o 0 5

17 17 Sep 1 0 70o32.4' 146o47.0' unknown 0o 0 5

17 17 Sep 2 0 70o18.7' 146o48.9' swim 360o 0 4

17 17 Sep 2 0 70o16.7' 146o48.7' swim 0o 0 4

19 24 Sep 1 0 71o36.3' 156o22.6' swim 290o 0 5

19 24 Sep 1 0 71o33.1' 156o21.3' swim 0o 0 5

19 24 Sep 1 0 71o12.5' 155o05.2' swim 300o 0 4

19 24 Sep 1 0 71o09.9' 154o58.8' swim 270o 0 4

19 24 Sep 2 0 71o13.4' 154o50.8' swim 300o 0 4

19 24 Sep 4 0 71o14.8' 154o50.2' swim 0o 0 4

19 24 Sep 1 0 71o08.2' 154o06.0' swim 0o 0 6

19 24 Sep 1 0 71o00.8' 153o42.3' swim 250o 0 5

19 24 Sep 1 0 71o07.3' 152o39.2' swim 240o 0 5

19 24 Sep 1 0 71o09.1' 152o29.3' swim 280o 0 6

20 25 Sep 1 0 70o59.2' 149o56.1' swim 150o 0 5

20 25 Sep 1 0 70o45.8' 147o42.4' swim 270o 0 7

21 29 Sep 1 0 70o40.0' 149o50.6' swim 330o 0 2

21 29 Sep 1 0 70o53.3' 151o00.7' swim 150o 0 2

21 29 Sep 1 0 70o52.3' 151o03.9' swim 90o 0 2

21 29 Sep 1 0 71o02.3' 153o33.5' swim 40o 0 2

21 29 Sep 1 0 71o02.1' 153o32.5' dive 0o 0 2

21 29 Sep 1 0 71o04.4' 153o00.7' swim 240o 0 3

21 29 Sep 1 0 71o03.6' 153o00.5' swim 60o 0 3

21 29 Sep 1 0 71o02.9' 153o00.4' swim 0o 0 3

21 29 Sep 2 0 71o02.9' 153o00.4' swim 0o 0 3

21 29 Sep 3 0 71o01.3' 152o59.6' mill 0o 0 3

21 29 Sep 1 0 71o30.3' 152o21.4' mill 0o 0 3

21 29 Sep 4 0 70o43.8' 150o07.2' mill 240o 0 2

21 29 Sep 2 0 70o43.8' 150o07.2' mill 330o 0 2

21 29 Sep 1 0 70o43.8' 150o07.2' swim 0o 0 2

23 1 Oct 1 0 70o27.0' 147o29.1' swim 160o 0 7

25 13 Oct 1 0 70o39.9' 148o55.3' rest 200o 0 3

25 13 Oct 1 0 70o39.6' 149o02.2' rest 10o 0 3

25 13 Oct 1 0 71o26.4' 156o35.1' swim 150o 0 3
Table D-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1999

130

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

25 13 Oct 1 0 71o23.6' 156o46.9' swim 60o 0 3

25 13 Oct 1 0 71o26.0' 156o50.3' swim 270o 0 3

25 13 Oct 2 0 71o18.3' 154o20.7' swim 360o 0 4

26 14 Oct 1 0 70o57.9' 149o11.3' rest 240o 90 1

26 14 Oct 1 0 70o58.1' 148o51.2' rest 30o 99 1

26 14 Oct 3 0 70o46.2' 148o17.6' swim 210o 99 1

26 14 Oct 1 0 70o45.0' 148o18.2' rest 210o 99 1

27 14 Oct 1 0 70o30.1' 146o45.0' swim 250o 95 1

27 14 Oct 1 0 70o25.8' 146o12.2' swim 260o 99 1

27 14 Oct 1 0 70o24.8' 146o12.0' swim 260o 99 1

28 15 Oct 1 0 70o33.1' 147o14.3' rest 280o 99 1

30 17 Oct 1 0 71o34.3' 153o25.4' swim 250o 0 5

30 17 Oct 3 0 71o10.6' 153o24.0' swim 270o 90 1

30 17 Oct 1 0 71o07.5' 152o44.9' dive 300o 95 3

30 17 Oct 1 0 71o08.5' 152o44.4' swim 310o 95 3

30 17 Oct 2 0 71o08.1' 151o47.7' mill 0o 90 3

30 17 Oct 1 0 71o03.7' 151o48.5' rest 240o 90 3

30 17 Oct 1 0 71o05.7' 151o01.2' swim 70o 90 3

30 17 Oct 1 0 71o09.1' 150o13.2' swim 240o 90 2

30 17 Oct 1 0 71o06.1' 149o49.9' swim 240o 95 2

30 17 Oct 3 0 71o10.1' 149o44.7' swim 240o 50 4

30 17 Oct 1 0 71o05.3' 149o11.6' rest 250o 90 1

31 18 Oct 2 0 70o32.2' 148o15.6' rest 270o 99 1

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o23.8' 154o51.8' swim 245o 50 4

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o23.3' 155o10.9' swim 225o 90 1

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o25.2' 156o55.1' swim 260o 0 6

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o25.8' 156o54.8' breach 90o 0 6

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o43.7' 155o42.6' swim 160o 0 6

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o43.5' 155o39.1' swim 240o 0 6

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o45.5' 155o20.2' rest 150o 0 5

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o29.8' 155o17.7' swim 200o 50 3

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o28.1' 155o17.2' swim 240o 90 1

31 18 Oct 2 0 71o27.9' 155o17.1' swim 240o 90 1

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o24.6' 155o16.0' swim 240o 90 1

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o24.6' 155o16.0' swim 150o 90 1

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o22.2' 154o50.4' swim 10o 40 4

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o23.7' 154o50.9' swim 15o 40 4

31 18 Oct 50 3 71o08.3' 153o32.7' feed 0o 99 2

31 18 Oct 38 1 71o11.7' 153o34.8' feed 0o 99 1

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o16.8' 153o13.0' swim 220o 0 6

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o12.3' 153o14.8' swim 150o 0 6

31 18 Oct 5 0 71o11.8' 153o14.9' swim 0o 0 6

31 18 Oct 2 0 71o09.0' 153o14.8' swim 50o 0 6
Table D-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1999

131

Flight

No. Day

Total

Whales

No. of

Calves Latitude Longitude Behavior

Compass

Heading

Ice

(%)

Wind

Force

31 18 Oct 1 0 71o11.1' 152o42.1' swim 220o 0 6

31 18 Oct 2 0 71o08.4' 152o03.1' swim 60o 0 6

32 20 Oct 1 0 71o04.1' 149o51.9' rest 245o 95 1

34 21 Oct 2 0 71o10.7' 151o43.7' swim 250o 50 2

34 21 Oct 2 0 71o12.1' 152o05.8' swim 240o 50 2

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o12.2' 152o22.6' swim 250o 50 2

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o12.3' 152o24.4' swim 250o 50 2

34 21 Oct 2 1 71o12.4' 152o26.1' cow with calf 240o 50 2

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o13.4' 152o54.5' breach 180o 1 3

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o16.3' 154o24.0' rest 70o 95 1

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o43.7' 156o52.2' swim 260o 0 5

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o49.8' 156o51.1' swim 255o 0 5

34 21 Oct 2 0 71o39.8' 156o12.8' breach 145o 0 4

34 21 Oct 2 0 71o38.7' 156o12.2' breach 230o 0 4

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o38.0' 156o11.7' swim 270o 0 4

34 21 Oct 3 0 71o38.0' 156o11.7' swim 30o 0 4

34 21 Oct 3 0 71o38.0' 156o11.7' swim 270o 0 4

34 21 Oct 4 0 71o38.0' 156o11.7' swim 270o 0 4

34 21 Oct 4 0 71o38.0' 156o11.7' swim 270o 0 4

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o33.0' 155o43.6' swim 210o 0 4

34 21 Oct 2 0 71o45.0' 155o19.5' unknown 0o 10 3

34 21 Oct 2 0 71o34.8' 155o16.5' rest 270o 99 1

34 21 Oct 5 0 71o25.8' 154o46.9' mill 0o 95 1

34 21 Oct 3 0 71o30.8' 154o47.3' mate 0o 95 1

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o31.5' 154o47.4' swim 260o 95 1

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o35.2' 154o13.4' rest 250o 90 1

34 21 Oct 3 0 71o29.4' 154o14.0' tail slap 0o 90 1

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o16.1' 153o31.9' swim 70o 5 3

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o17.5' 153o31.5' swim 180o 5 3

34 21 Oct 2 0 71o23.0' 153o31.8' swim 260o 80 3

34 21 Oct 1 0 71o27.9' 153o24.5' swim 70o 50 1

35 22 Oct 2 3 0 71o37.2' 156o50.1' swim 290o 0 4

35 22 Oct 2 0 71o37.8' 156o49.4' swim 290o 0 4

35 22 Oct 1 0 71o38.1' 156o49.4' swim 260o 0 4

35 22 Oct 1 0 71o42.3' 156o47.9' swim 220o 0 4

35 22 Oct 1 0 71o40.0' 155o14.3' swim 240o 5 4

35 22 Oct 2 0 71o35.9' 155o14.0' breach 270o 40 2

35 22 Oct 1 0 71o08.4' 154o35.1' rest 240o 50 2

35 22 Oct 2 0 71o23.1' 154o41.2' mill 0o 99 1

35 22 Oct 2 0 71o21.7' 154o10.8' swim 230o 1 4

35 22 Oct 3 0 71o17.0' 154o09.1' mill 0o 90 1

35 22 Oct 1 0 71o21.7' 153o44.8' swim 260o 50 2

35 22 Oct 1 0 71o06.6' 153o35.0' rest 240o 95 1
Table D-1

Selected Sighting Data for Bowhead Whales Observed, Fall 1999

132

1

 Not recorded.

2

 Possible repeat sighting.

3

 Definite repeat sighting (excluded from analyses).

4

 Dead whale (excluded from analyses).

5

 Definite response to aircraft.
133

APPENDIX E

GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND INITIALISMS
135

GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND INITIALISMS

AEWC Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission

ANOVA analysis of variance

BLM Bureau of Land Management

C Celsius

CI confidence interval

e.g. for example

ESA Endangered Species Act

FR Federal Register

GPS Global Positioning System

hr hour

HSD “honestly significant difference” (Tukey statistical test)

i.e. that is

k number of samples

km kilometer

m meter

MMS Minerals Management Service

n sample size

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOS Notice of Sale

NOSC Naval Ocean Systems Center

NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service

nm nautical mile

NSB North Slope Borough

OAS Office of Aircraft Services

OCS Outer Continental Shelf

OCSLA Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act

p probability

SD standard deviation

SI sightings

SPUE sightings per unit effort (number of whale sightings counted per hour)

trSI transect sightings

USC U.S. Code

USDOC U.S. Department of Commerce

USDOD U.S. Department of Defense

USDOI U.S. Department of the Interior

WPUE whales per unit effort (number of whales counted per hour): relative abundance