Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 05:53
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Weddell Seals in the Ross Sea

What is the worst temperature for seals to be in and what is the best ?

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 05:35

Alex Eilers

Super question! But I’ll have to answer it in two different ways: water temperature and air temperature.The Southern Ocean is at a fairly consistent temperature of about −2 to 10 °C (28 to 50 °F). And the temperatures in the Ross Sea (near where I was) are consistently near freezing.
On land (near McMurdo Station) there is a much more dramatic temperature shift. The lowest temperature ever recorded there was -59°F and the highest was 49°F.
So it’s not surprising that during the winter season when temperatures are extremely cold and the weather is brutal, seals spend the majority of their time in the ocean where the temperatures are more consistent.
Thanks again for your question!!!
Ms. Alex