A Theory for the Hydrodynamic Origin of Whale Flukeprints

Whale flukeprints are an often observed, but poorly understood, phenomenon. Used by whale researchers to locate whales, flukeprints refer to a strikingly smooth oval-shaped water patch which forms behind a swimming or diving whale on the surface of the ocean and persists up to several minutes. In this paper we provide a description of hydrodynamic theory and related experiments explaining the creation and evolution of these ‘‘whale footprints.’’ The theory explains that the motion of the fluke provides a mechanism for shedding of vortex rings which subsequently creates a breakwater that damps the short wavelength capillary waves. The theory also suggests that the role of natural surfactants are of secondary importance in the early formation of these prints.

Citation:

Levy, R., D. Uminsky, A. Park, and J. Calambokidis. 2011. A Theory for the Hydrodynamic Origin of Whale Flukeprints. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics, 46(4): 616-626. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2010.12.009