Walruses are sort of the Goldilocks of the North Pole — the
chunks of sea ice they call home must be just right. If the ice
floe is too large, the walrus can't get to water quickly enough
to escape a polar bear attack; too small, and the ice can't
support their weight and the walruses go splashing into the sea.
Now, a new technique for mapping the 3-D structure of Arctic ice
promises to help researchers better understand the habitat needs
of walruses and other wildlife. The 3-D ice maps could also aid
in planning shipping routes, research cruises and other Arctic
endeavors, said Chandra Kambhamettu, a computer scientist at the
University of Delaware who developed the technique. "We're
interested in objectively characterizing these habitats and how
they're changing over time, as well as how to measure the
effects of warming on the region," Kambhamettu told
OurAmazingPlanet. Kambhamettu's team used the system, which
relies on two cameras mounted to a research vessel, on a recent
two-month cruise that traversed