The oftenunexplainable stack beachingsof whales , dolphins , and porpoise have puzzled scientists for decades . NASA scientistsare now investigatingone the most intriguing theories out there , with a new enquiry project looking into the idea that occult cetacean strandings might be make by solar tempest .
Here ’s how the theory works . Solar storms affect monolithic hopeful fit of irradiation , plasma , and electromagnetic vigor from the Sun . When this solar flatus hits the Earth ’s ionosphere , it can strike the Earth ’s own magnetic theater of operations . These kerfuffle are powerful enough to disable satellites , cause job for power power grid , and disrupt GPS - piloting systems .
As part of their sensory arsenal , nautical mammals partially rely on magnetic fields to voyage their way around the seas . It seems potential then that if a solar storm can shake up a GPS , it could confuse the navigational scope of an creature .
To inquire this link , the researcher want to sift through NASA ’s space - weather database , as well as strand data gathered by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ( BOEM ) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare . With this huge bank of data at their disposal , the squad of marine biologists and space - weather experts hope to carry out the first stringent analysis of whether there is a link between mass strandings and infinite - weather condition disturbances .
“ We estimate that record on the order of century of cetaceous mass strandings will be available for study , thus making our analyses statistically meaning , " NASA heliophysicist Antti Pulkkinen explained in astatement . “We therefore anticipate that we will be able to dependably test the surmisal . So far , there has been very little quantitative enquiry , just a heap of speculation . What we ’re travel to do is confound insensate , hard data point at this . It ’s a long - standing mystery and it ’s important that we calculate out what ’s sound on . ”
NASA say they are unlikely to notice a causal connexion , as legion other divisor contribute to strandings . For example , strandings are often associated with fine - granulate , lightly sloping beach . The phenomenon is also notably more plebeian in certain contribution of the mankind , such as Massachusetts , New Zealand , Australia . yet , empathize this solar kinship could potentially lay aside some of the lives of these great creatures .
“ We may be able to use observations of solar storms as an former monition for potential strandings to happen , ” added Desray Reeb , a marine life scientist at BOEM . “ This would allow stranding responders in globular hotspots , and really around the Earth , to be advantageously prepared to respond , thus having the opportunity to hold open more fauna . ”
