How do scientists know that humpback whales communicate through songs? That’s because they have ears placed on the bottom of the ocean at strategic points! These ‘ears’ are part of a network of underwater microphones or hydrophones placed by various scientific research organisations that eavesdrop on the sounds that pervade the inky depths-from the squeaky whistles and moans of whales and the rumbling of earthquakes, to the drone of ships passing overhead.
The sounds provide a lot of information about the world beneath the waves. The information can reveal how man-made noise affects the creatures of the deep as well as predict if the movement of tectonic plates is going to cause an earthquake.
Sound travels much further than any other form of energy in the ocean, with low-frequency sound reaching thousands of kilometres deep. Data collected from hydrophones shows that shipping activity cripples communication between whales and other marine mammals that use sound and echolocation to find their mates, fellows, and prey. The noise from ships is so loud that these animals are forced to ‘shout to be heard! According to a diver, the disturbance caused by a ship passing above is like being hit in the chest with a heavy golf club.
Data collected from hydrophones shows that shipping activity cripples communication between whales and other marine mammals that use sound and echolocation to find their mates, fellows, and prey.
Picture Credit : Google