Cetacean (whales) aerial survey data from the Antarctic collected between 2008 and 2010

With the aim of estimating the proportion of Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in pack ice over summer, an Australian fixed-wing aerial survey programme, based in east Antarctica, was conducted in the austral summers of 2007/2008, 2008/09 and 2009/10 (See Kelly et al. 2010; SC/62/IA8). The first season (2007/08) comprised of three 'test' flights. As such, there were no real 'survey' data collected during these three flights, but video and digital stills data have been included in the dataset supplied. The surveys (2008/09 and 2009/10) covered two general regions: Vincennes Bay (66 degrees 24'S 110 degrees 18'E) which was surveyed multiple times across both seasons and within the 2009/10 season, and north and east of the Shackleton Ice Shelf and into the eastern section of the Davis Sea, which was surveyed once (2009/10). The primary focus was on Antarctic minke whales, however sightings of other species were also collected (killer whale, Southern right whale, penguins and seals).The survey was conducted in a CASA 212:400 aircraft at an altitude was 228m (750ft) and survey speed was 204 km/hr (110 knots). The survey was conducted as independent double-platform: the front and back observers were isolated visually and audibly. The aircraft was also fitted with a number of digital still, video and infrared cameras. Data Available1. Sighting data setA .csv file of animal sightings. Two files, one for each survey season, has been supplied. The observers field of view was between 30 degrees and 60 degrees declination (approximately) from the horizon, corresponding to an on the ground area width of 264 metres each side of the aircraft. Protocol was followed as for traditional line transect surveys for marine mammals, with observers searching ahead of the aircraft in a 'D' pattern. The recorded observations consisted of cue counting (where possible) and the angle of declination when the animals were abeam to the observer (using a Suunto inclinometer). Cues were not recorded after the animals had moved past abeam. The angle of declination of groups was measured at the centre of the group. Perpendicular distance out to animals was calculated using angle of declination and flying height (but no correction for curvature of the earth or aircraft drift angle was applied).Other information recorded included species, group size (minimum, maximum and best estimate), cue type, number of animals at surface when perpendicular, direction of travel and any behavioural features of the animal(s). Please note that no formal sighting data was collected for the January 2008 test flights. 2. Effort data setA .csv file of survey effort and environmental conditions. Two files, one for each survey season, has been supplied. The flight leader recorded environmental covariates (ice coverage (to the nearest 10%), glare, Beaufort sea state, and cloud cover, etc) at regular intervals, or when conditions changed.3. Still imagesThe data includes jpeg files of images. A still camera was mounted vertically in the base of the aircraft to cover the trackline (10 megapixel Nikon D200 with 35mm lens); camera was situated behind a Perspex window. In addition in the final survey year (2009/10) two Nikon D300 cameras (12 megapixel with 50mm lens) were mounted at the side windows obliquely at an angle of 45 degrees (please note side-camera was used only during final season of survey, Dec 2009-Feb 2010). Focus set to infinity, and image settings given to account for high-light, high-contrast environments. GPS/altitude data was embedded in each images EXIF information. Still image coverage underneath the aircraft was uninterrupted along the trackline with a shutter-release of around 1 photograph per second and a swath width of around 157 m. Similarly the oblique mounted cameras had a coverage over 450 m each side of the trackline (i.e., configured to be approximately the same as the human observers).4. Video camerasA number of streampix video files. Two high definition video cameras (Prosilica GC1350C GigE with 5mm F1.4 lens) were also fitted to the aircraft. Streampix is propriety software.5. Infrared A number of .mov files recorded from an Infra-red camera (FLIR Photon 320 with 9mm lens) mounted in the base of the aircraft. Infrared camera was situated behind an infrared window. 6. TelemetryA number of text files (.txt) containing aircraft telemetry (yaw/roll etc) and gps. The telemetry is not that reliable, nor does it go anywhere close to covering all flights conducted (see below), but included for completeness.7. Flight data'dat' files dumped from the aircraft flight recorder containing flight data, including geographical position, velocity and altitude. These are ascii files. 8. GPS dataIn addition to flight and telemetry data, we've also included two post-processed GPS data files (two .csv files, one for each survey season). These files contain GPS data from a number of sources; this was to help buffer against GPS drop-outs. Therefore, this data is much more complete than the telemetry and flight data, and has been corrected for any time syncing issues. 9. "Season_overview_2010.xls" This Excel spreadsheet file contains details on each transect, effort and other sighting information. It accompanies the .csv files for the 2009/10 season as an overview. (A similar summary does not exist for 2008/09 season.)

本数据集旨在估算夏季浮冰群中南极小须鲸（Antarctic minke whales，Balaenoptera bonaerensis）的种群占比，项目依托东南极洲基地开展澳大利亚固定翼航空调查，于2007/2008、2008/09及2009/10年的南半球夏季实施（详见Kelly等2010年文献；SC/62/IA8）。

2007/2008年调查季包含3次"试飞"任务，因此该3次飞行未收集正式的"调查"数据，但所提供的数据集中已纳入视频及数码静态图像资料。2008/09及2009/10年的正式调查覆盖两个核心区域：一是文森特湾（66°24′S，110°18′E），该区域在两个调查季均开展了多次覆盖调查，且2009/10年调查季内的调查频次更高；二是沙克尔顿冰架以北及以东区域，延伸至戴维斯海东部海域，该区域仅在2009/10年开展过1次调查。

本次调查的核心目标物种为南极小须鲸，但同时也记录了其他物种的目击信息，包括虎鲸、南露脊鲸、企鹅及海豹。本次调查使用CASA 212:400型固定翼飞机实施，飞行高度为228米（750英尺），调查航速为204公里/小时（110节）。调查采用独立双观测平台设计：前、后观测员之间视觉与听觉均相互隔离。飞机同时搭载了多台数码静态相机、摄像机及红外相机。

1. 目击数据集
提供了动物目击信息的CSV格式文件，每个调查季对应1个文件，共2个文件。观测员的视场范围为相对于地平线约30°至60°的俯角，对应飞机两侧各264米的地面观测宽度。调查遵循海洋哺乳动物传统线样调查规程，观测员以"D"字形扫描模式在飞机前方搜寻目标。记录内容包括（可行时的）线索计数，以及动物位于观测员正横方位时的俯角（使用颂科（Suunto）测斜仪测量）。当动物越过正横方位后，不再记录相关线索。群体的俯角测量值取自群体中心位置。利用俯角及飞行高度计算得到动物的垂直离岸距离（未对地球曲率及飞机偏航角进行校正）。其他记录信息包括物种、群体规模（最小值、最大值及最佳估计值）、线索类型、垂直方位时水面可见动物数量、行进方向及动物的各类行为特征。请注意，2008年1月的试飞任务未收集正式目击数据。

2. 调查工作量数据集
提供了包含调查工作量与环境条件的CSV格式文件，每个调查季对应1个文件，共2个文件。飞行领队定期记录或在环境条件发生变化时记录环境协变量，包括海冰覆盖率（精确至10%）、眩光、海况蒲福风级及云量等。

3. 静态图像
数据集包含JPEG格式图像文件。飞机底部安装了一台垂直朝向的静态相机，用于覆盖航迹线区域（搭载1000万像素尼康D200（Nikon D200）相机及35mm镜头），相机安装于亚克力（Perspex）观测窗后方。此外，在最后一个调查季（2009/10年），两台尼康D300（Nikon D300）相机（1200万像素，搭配50mm镜头）安装于侧窗处，以45°斜角朝向外侧（请注意，侧置相机仅在2009年12月至2010年2月的最后一个调查季使用）。相机焦距设置为无穷远，图像参数设置用于适配强光、高对比度的拍摄环境。每张图像的EXIF元数据中均嵌入了GPS/海拔数据。飞机底部的静态相机以约每秒1张的快门速度拍摄，扫描幅宽约为飞机两侧各157米，航迹线下方的静态图像覆盖范围无间断。同理，斜置相机的扫描幅宽为航迹线两侧各约450米（配置参数与人类观测员的视场范围大致相当）。

4. 摄像机数据
包含若干Streampix格式视频文件。飞机同时搭载了两台高清摄像机（Prosilica GC1350C GigE，搭配5mm F1.4镜头）。Streampix为专有软件。

5. 红外相机数据
包含若干从安装于飞机底部的红外相机（FLIR Photon 320，搭配9mm镜头）录制的.MOV格式文件。红外相机安装于红外观测窗后方。

6. 遥测数据
包含若干文本文件（.txt格式），记录了飞机遥测数据（偏航/滚转等）及GPS信息。该遥测数据可靠性有限，且未覆盖所有执行的飞行任务，但为保证数据集完整性仍予以收录。

7. 飞行数据
包含从飞机飞行记录仪导出的".dat"格式文件，记录了飞行数据，包括地理位置、速度及海拔高度。该类文件为ASCII格式。

8. GPS数据
除飞行数据及遥测数据外，本次数据集还提供了两份后处理GPS数据文件（每个调查季1个，共2个CSV格式文件）。这些文件包含多来源的GPS数据，用于应对GPS信号丢失的情况。因此，该数据集比遥测数据及飞行数据更为完整，且已针对所有时间同步问题进行了校正。

9. "Season_overview_2010.xls"
该Excel电子表格文件包含了每条样带、调查工作量及其他目击信息的详细内容，作为2009/10年调查季CSV文件的配套概述文件（2008/09年调查季无类似汇总文件）。