Bowhead Whales Sing Their Hearts Out Under the Arctic Ice

Arctic-endemic bowhead whales are facing a rapidly changing environment as polar sea ice melts. To understand how these elusive giants are coping, researchers analysed multi-year acoustic records from two distinct locations near Svalbard: one that remains nearly ice-covered year-round and another that is mostly ice-free. To sift through the vast amount of audio data, the team employed Convolutional Neural Networks—advanced artificial intelligence designed to detect patterns—to identify specific whale vocalisations.

The study revealed that while whales were acoustically present at both sites from October to April, their activity was markedly higher and more continuous in the ice-covered waters northwest of Svalbard. The frequent detection of complex songs in this region suggests it functions as a vital winter breeding ground. Furthermore, song diversity peaked in February, potentially signaling the arrival of whales from further north as the ice retreated. These insights into the vocal behaviour of the Spitsbergen population are essential for predicting how ongoing sea-ice decline will impact their future distribution.