Jonathan Vallarta

Cetacean Acoustic Researcher 

Jonathan Vallarta is an independent cetacean acoustic researcher based in Scotland. He started his career in Mexico City, studying Biology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering at Iberoamericana University.  With both degrees as background he was able to develop a study of the passive acoustic methods of localisation for Sperm Whale.  Such study was produced as part of his doctoral research project at Heriot Watt University (HWU), Edinburgh.

In 2003 he was part of the acoustic team of the Sperm Whale Seismic Study in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2004 he collaborated with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust in Scotland as a Passive Acoustic Monitoring Operator. For this expedition, he developed, with the Hydroacoustic Group at HWU, a portable  passive acoustic equipment to record porpoise vocalisations.

His current work is based on the analysis of different hydrophone array configurations to improve the accuracy of the Hyperbolic Localisation Technique by using a software simulator in 3D that he has developed.

With a deep passion for the sea and its animals, Jonathan enjoys the underwater photography as a master scuba diver with certifications from NAUI, CMAS, FMAS and BSAC.

Read more about Jonathan's work on his website - click on image below

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