QUEST Northwest | Stories Produced at KCTS 9
- FEATURED STORY
Sound Waves – Listening to Orcas
They are an icon of the Pacific Northwest and thousands of people come to the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound to catch a glimpse of the Southern Resident orcas that call these waters home.
Megathrust Earthquakes
Experts warn that an offshore quake powerful enough to kill thousands and discharge a tsunami could hit the West Coast anytime.
Up, Up and Away: Escaping a Tsunami Vertically
Northwest disaster officials and communities propose new structures for people to get to safety when a killer tsunami wave is on the way, not by trying to outrun the wave, but by trying to out-climb it.
Web Extra: Orca Sounds vs. Underwater Noise
When listening for orca whales underwater, researchers distinguish their sounds from other noises such as boats, ships, and other sea animals with hydrophones. Learn how these instruments work.
Into the Waves with Orcas
We explore how scientists use hydrophones to track noise from ships and boats to discover what effect noise pollution really has on orcas.
Why Killer Whales Don’t Eat People
It’s clear that in the wild, orcas seem to have a pretty universal rule: don’t attack humans. The reason would appear to be both biological and cultural.
Cultural Differences in Northwest Orcas
Even though different groups of orcas in the Pacific Northwest often share the same waters, they don’t interact outside of their group and demonstrate unique behaviors.
Orca Poop is a 'Treasure Trove' for Researchers
Scientists are looking for clues in killer whales' aquatic droppings as they try to determine why their numbers remain so low in Puget Sound.
The Killer Affecting Killer Whale Populations
Researchers have learned that calf survival rates are incredibly low, especially for the orca’s first born. The mother’s young calf often dies because of something the mother passes on to her offspring—PCBs.
Southern Resident Orcas and Chinook Salmon
Kenneth Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research Friday Harbor, Washington, explains the connection between the Southern Resident killer whales (orcas) and chinook salmon.
