Скачать или смотреть Why Our Ocean’s Are Getting Louder?😳

For millennia, the oceans have been a world of sound. Whales, dolphins, and fish rely on intricate vocalizations to navigate, find food, attract mates, and protect their young. But in the last century, this delicate soundscape has been shattered by a cacophony of man-made noise.


The primary culprit is the dramatic increase in global shipping. The low-frequency rumble of massive container ships, the incessant churn of propellers, and the hum of onboard machinery create a persistent acoustic smog that blankets vast stretches of the ocean. This underwater traffic jam is now a constant feature of the marine environment.


Adding to the din are a host of other industrial activities. The thunderous blasts from seismic surveys for oil and gas exploration, the disruptive noise of offshore construction and drilling, and the intense pings of military sonar are all contributing to this underwater noise pollution. Even the buzz of smaller vessels like fishing boats and recreational watercraft adds to the cumulative impact.


Compounding this issue is the very chemistry of our oceans. As increased carbon dioxide emissions make the ocean more acidic, sound waves are able to travel further, amplifying the noise. A warming climate is also melting polar ice at an alarming rate. This not only opens up new shipping routes in previously quiet arctic regions but also adds the sound of cracking and calving icebergs to the mix.