Sound Sound PollutionPollution

Human noise drowns Human noise drowns out song of whalesout song of whales

About our oceansAbout our oceans principal component of the principal component of the

hydrospherehydrosphere 71% of the Earth's surface (an area of 71% of the Earth's surface (an area of

some 361 million square kilometers)some 361 million square kilometers) most dramatic forms of weather most dramatic forms of weather

occurs over the oceans: tropical occurs over the oceans: tropical cyclonescyclones

Ocean currents greatly affect the Ocean currents greatly affect the Earth's climate by transferring warm Earth's climate by transferring warm or cold air and precipitation to coastal or cold air and precipitation to coastal regions, where they may be carried regions, where they may be carried inland by winds (climate equalizer)inland by winds (climate equalizer)

essential to transportation: most of the essential to transportation: most of the world's goods are moved by ship world's goods are moved by ship between the world's seaportsbetween the world's seaports

important source of valuable food important source of valuable food items for the fishing industryitems for the fishing industry

Source of recreation Source of recreation And most recently a source of energy And most recently a source of energy

through tidal turbinesthrough tidal turbines

Problems facing our Problems facing our oceanocean

Water pollution (run Water pollution (run off from cities and off from cities and agricultural land, oil agricultural land, oil spills, illegal dumping, spills, illegal dumping, ect.)ect.)

General warming of General warming of the oceanthe ocean

Slowing of ocean Slowing of ocean currents causing dead currents causing dead seasseas

Over fishingOver fishing Destruction of coral Destruction of coral

reefs and costal reefs and costal habitats due to habitats due to commercial fishing and commercial fishing and shippingshipping

Increase of CO2Increase of CO2 Increase of UV rays Increase of UV rays

harming marine life harming marine life because of ozone because of ozone depletiondepletion

All of these are killing All of these are killing marine species but marine species but “sound pollution” kills “sound pollution” kills our least known about our least known about marine mammal marine mammal painfullypainfully

What is sound pollution and What is sound pollution and where does it come from?where does it come from?

Otherwise known as noise pollutionOtherwise known as noise pollution Remember when the clerk in the pet store told Remember when the clerk in the pet store told

you not to tap on the fish tank, because the you not to tap on the fish tank, because the soundsound disturbs the fish?disturbs the fish?

Underwater noise can adversely effect marine life, Underwater noise can adversely effect marine life, particularly the mid-frequency particularly the mid-frequency

This is caused by high intensity sonar systems This is caused by high intensity sonar systems used by U.S. Navy ships and submarines, used by U.S. Navy ships and submarines, commercial shipping and seismic surveys commercial shipping and seismic surveys

indirect source of noise pollution; climate change, indirect source of noise pollution; climate change, which is altering the chemistry of the oceans and which is altering the chemistry of the oceans and making sound travel farther through sea water making sound travel farther through sea water

seismic test, used to locate hydrocarbons beneath seismic test, used to locate hydrocarbons beneath the seabed, can spread 3,000 kilometers under the seabed, can spread 3,000 kilometers under water water

rising levels of carbon dioxide are increasing the rising levels of carbon dioxide are increasing the acidity of the Earth's oceans, making sound travel acidity of the Earth's oceans, making sound travel 10% farther through sea water than a few 10% farther through sea water than a few centuries agocenturies ago

could increase to 70 percent by 2050 if could increase to 70 percent by 2050 if greenhouse gases are not cut greenhouse gases are not cut

How this affects marine How this affects marine mammals?mammals?

Mainly affects whales and dolphins others are not known about wellMainly affects whales and dolphins others are not known about well interferes with ability to navigate, find food, communicate and avoid interferes with ability to navigate, find food, communicate and avoid

predators predators ““Cocktail party affect”Cocktail party affect” Once able to communicate over thousands of miles (kilometers) to Once able to communicate over thousands of miles (kilometers) to

forage and mate and are now losing touch with each otherforage and mate and are now losing touch with each other Military sonar or seismic testing may scare them into diving and Military sonar or seismic testing may scare them into diving and

surfacing beyond their physical limits surfacing beyond their physical limits Induce a condition similar to DCSInduce a condition similar to DCS Tissue damage due to DCSTissue damage due to DCS Certain high frequency noises can damage their hearing Certain high frequency noises can damage their hearing Causes whales to do things they would not normally do like stop singing, Causes whales to do things they would not normally do like stop singing,

divert from their migratory paths and beach themselves divert from their migratory paths and beach themselves Several species already listed as endangered or Several species already listed as endangered or critically endangeredcritically endangered

from other causes, including hunting, chemical pollution, collisions with from other causes, including hunting, chemical pollution, collisions with boats and entanglements with fishing equipment. boats and entanglements with fishing equipment.

Sound pollution is increasingly being recognized as another serious Sound pollution is increasingly being recognized as another serious factorfactor

A study found that the blue whale, which used to communicate across A study found that the blue whale, which used to communicate across entire oceans, has lost 90 percent of its range over the last 40 years. entire oceans, has lost 90 percent of its range over the last 40 years.

BeachingsBeachings Otherwise known as strandingsOtherwise known as strandings

Related articlesRelated articles In the last nine years there have been 10 In the last nine years there have been 10

cases of mass strandings and whale deaths cases of mass strandings and whale deaths associated with mid-frequency sonar testing associated with mid-frequency sonar testing in the coastal waters from Greece to the in the coastal waters from Greece to the Canary Islands Canary Islands

Researchers from the Zoological Society of Researchers from the Zoological Society of London and the University of Las Palmas in London and the University of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands have found nitrogen the Canary Islands have found nitrogen bubbles in the tissues of stranded whales bubbles in the tissues of stranded whales which exhibited the same effects as those of which exhibited the same effects as those of decompression sickness (DCS) in humans. decompression sickness (DCS) in humans. "The detailed examination of the mass "The detailed examination of the mass stranded whales in the Canaries in 2002 stranded whales in the Canaries in 2002 suggests the naval sonar could induce a suggests the naval sonar could induce a condition similar to DCS,” Professor Antonio condition similar to DCS,” Professor Antonio Fernandez of the University of Las Palmas Fernandez of the University of Las Palmas said.said.

In early July 2004, a pod of 200 deep-water In early July 2004, a pod of 200 deep-water melon-headed whales stampeded into the melon-headed whales stampeded into the shallow waters off Kauai, Hawaii, during U.S.-shallow waters off Kauai, Hawaii, during U.S.-Japanese naval training exercises utilizing the Japanese naval training exercises utilizing the high intensity sonar. In the confusion, one of high intensity sonar. In the confusion, one of the whales was stranded and died. the whales was stranded and died.

2008: beaching of more than 100 melon-2008: beaching of more than 100 melon-headed whales in Madagascar and that of two headed whales in Madagascar and that of two dozen common dolphins on the southern dozen common dolphins on the southern British coast.British coast.

US Navy Sued in Hawaii by Environmentalist US Navy Sued in Hawaii by Environmentalist Groups; Lawsuit Attempts to Stop US Navy Groups; Lawsuit Attempts to Stop US Navy Sonar ExercisesSonar Exercises

Active Sonar was believed to have caused a Active Sonar was believed to have caused a massive beaching of Beaked Whales off the massive beaching of Beaked Whales off the coast of Greece in 1996. NATO had been coast of Greece in 1996. NATO had been testing their Active Sonar System at the testing their Active Sonar System at the time, which only goes to confirm the risks time, which only goes to confirm the risks of doing so. of doing so.

In 2000, a U.S. Navy Battle Group In 2000, a U.S. Navy Battle Group used Active Sonar in the area used Active Sonar in the area where several whales of four where several whales of four different species beached different species beached themselves in the Bahamas. At themselves in the Bahamas. At first the Navy denied their Sonar first the Navy denied their Sonar Technology was to blame until Technology was to blame until their own investigation found their own investigation found severe acoustic trauma had severe acoustic trauma had caused hemorrhaging around the caused hemorrhaging around the whales' eyes and ears. A study by whales' eyes and ears. A study by the government concluded with the government concluded with much certainty that the whales' much certainty that the whales' injuries were caused by mid-injuries were caused by mid-frequency sonar that ships in the frequency sonar that ships in the area had been using. Marine area had been using. Marine Scientists believe that whales' and Scientists believe that whales' and dolphins often times beach dolphins often times beach themselves after being injured by themselves after being injured by the sonar. the sonar.

What is being done?What is being done? Natural Resources Defense Natural Resources Defense

Council and a coalition of three Council and a coalition of three other environmental and animal other environmental and animal rights groups, won a lawsuit rights groups, won a lawsuit against the U.S. Navyagainst the U.S. Navy

Navy agreed to scale back the use Navy agreed to scale back the use of low-frequency wave technology of low-frequency wave technology

Representatives of more than 100 Representatives of more than 100 governments are gathered in governments are gathered in Rome for a meeting of the U.N.-Rome for a meeting of the U.N.-backed Convention on the backed Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. The agenda of of Wild Animals. The agenda of the conference, which ended the conference, which ended Friday December 12Friday December 12thth, includes , includes ways to increase protection for ways to increase protection for endangered species, including endangered species, including measures to mitigate underwater measures to mitigate underwater noisenoise

Conference discussing a Conference discussing a resolution that would oblige resolution that would oblige countries to reduce sound countries to reduce sound pollutionpollution

What will happen if nothing What will happen if nothing is done?is done?

Without practical restrictions, the rise of high intensity sonar will Without practical restrictions, the rise of high intensity sonar will cause agonizing pain, injury and death for a growing number of cause agonizing pain, injury and death for a growing number of marine animals marine animals

Further endangerment of cetaceans and possibly extinction for othersFurther endangerment of cetaceans and possibly extinction for others

My thoughtsMy thoughts I obviously believe I obviously believe

that sound pollution is that sound pollution is not a good thing like not a good thing like all forms of pollution all forms of pollution it harms living things it harms living things but first it causes but first it causes intense pain before a intense pain before a slow deathslow death

My idea for solutions My idea for solutions for this problem for this problem include: include:

rerouting shipping rerouting shipping around marine around marine habitats and installing habitats and installing quieter enginesquieter engines

Cutting speed and Cutting speed and banning tests of sonar banning tests of sonar in areas known to be in areas known to be inhabited by the inhabited by the endangered animals.endangered animals.

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