Page 73 - World Airnews Magazine June 2020 Edition

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its total length from pixels to absolute metres. CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS FOOD SUPPLY
From there, I can calculate its volume to determine whether it’s Humpback whale numbers have been bouncing back since
in good nick, comparing it to other whales from its population. commercial whaling for humpbacks in Australia stopped in 1963.
More globally, many whale populations, including blue whales,
SIZING UP WHALES are slowly recovering since the International Whaling Commission
Humpback whales can weigh up to 40,000 kg and grow to about moratorium on commercial whaling started in 1986. But climate
13 to 18 m, with females usually the larger of the two. The blue change adds new, and possibly unknown, threats to whales.
whale, the largest animal on Earth, can reach 24 to 30 m in length, In particular, climate change – including changes in sea
weighing in at a whopping 190,000 kg. temperatures, ocean acidification, reduction in sea ice, primary
My research links the condition of a whale’s body to the timing of productivity and changes to ocean currents – can threaten the
its migration. Understanding this relationship is important because main prey of whales: krill.
it’ll hopefully increase our understanding about what trade-offs Whales must consume large amounts of food per day to survive.
whales make during their migration. And whales with reduced fat reserves have less chance of repro-
For example, humpback whales rely on stored energy during ducing successfully. If their main food source is no longer there,
their annual migration from their feeding grounds in Antarctica they may not get enough food to make these long migrations, or to
to their breeding grounds in the north west (Camden Sound) and give enough energy to their calves for survival and growth.
eastern (Great Barrier Reef) waters of Australia. This means they Females may skip a reproductive cycle to ensure they have
don’t eat during this time. enough energy reserves for future pregnancy. Males may also
So, their body condition will determine how long they can spend less time on the breeding grounds if they don’t have suffi-
physically spend in these breeding grounds. In other words, the cient energy reserves, decreasing their breeding opportunities.
more energy stores they have, the more time they can go without Declining krill stock in the Southern Ocean plays a big role, but so
feeding. do other stressors in their environment from shipping, oil and gas
While on the breeding grounds, whales also compete for breed- production, and other increased human activities in the ocean.
ing opportunities and calving. The most energetically demanding So until we better understand these mysterious and enigmatic
of these is calving, as the energy a mother passes onto her calf will creatures, I’ll forgive the early morning starts. I’ll embrace the
influence her calf’s growth rate and survival. wind in my face and the salt in my hair, knowing the welfare of
whales around the world is everyone’s responsibility. Q

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BOEING RESUMES 737 MAX

PRODUCTION

Production system enhanced through factory initiatives

it even stronger,” said Walt Odisho, vice “The steps we’ve taken in the factory will
president and general manager of the 737 help drive our goal of 100 percent quality
Boeing has resumed production of programme. “These initiatives are the for our customers while supporting our
the 737 MAX at the company’s Renton, next step in creating the optimal build ongoing commitment to workplace safety,”
environment for the 737 MAX.”
Washington factory. said Scott Stocker, vice president of 737
The 737 programme began building During the temporary suspension of manufacturing.
airplanes at a low rate as it implements production that began in January, mechan- Production will initially be limited to one
ics and engineers collaborated to refine
more than a dozen initiatives focused on and standardize work packages in each of the three commercial lines in the Renton
enhancing workplace safety and product position of the factory. New kitting process- factory. A second line will be reactivated
quality. es will also ensure that employees have next year as the programme slowly ramps
“We’ve been on a continuous journey to everything they need at their fingertips to up production, eventually reaching the rate
evolve our production system and make build the airplane. of 31 airplanes per month in 2021. Q

World Airnews | June Extra 2020
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