How Birds Navigate: The ALFIC system - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

It has been discovered recently by atmospheric scientists that solar irradiance changes the composition of the atmospheric gases near the ground; in particular ozone goes through a maximum concentration during the middle of the day.In 1971 Professor Papi and his team discovered that if you severed the nerves between the nostril of a homing pigeon and its brain, then the bird could no longer home.Therefore it suggested that birds can obtain at least an approximate Easting by sampling the local atmosphere.This is called the ALFIC method - Approximate Longitude From Inhaled Chemicals.The book also considers the role of the earth's magnetic field in allowing the bird to get an approximate Northing.The author says that there is currently insufficient data to fully determine the accuracy of the ALFIC method; he also says that the ozone chemistry postulated as working over a land mass would not work over the ocean and that further work is needed. Finally the outline of the ALFIC Project is set out, the object being to further clarify the uncertainties and to invite engineers and other scientists to take an interest in this long standing unresolved problem.

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