The Ocean Soundscape
Sound is the ocean’s invisible language. It carries essential information about the behavior of marine animals, the dynamics of natural events, and countless other underwater processes. Read more below about different oceanic sounds and how researchers use them in their work.
BIOLOGICAL
Many marine animal species rely on sound to navigate, find food, and communicate with each other, especially in environments where visibility is limited. By studying their vocalizations and acoustic behaviors, scientists can learn about migration routes, mating strategies, and social interactions. Understanding these patterns not only helps us uncover the lives of these animals but also guides efforts to protect them from threats like habitat disruption and human-made noise.
ANTHROPOGENIC
Humans add a lot of extra noise to the ocean, and it’s changing how marine animals live. Imagine living next to a train station with trains passing by every minute of every single day. That’s what it’s like for some ocean creatures. Boats, construction, sonar, and aircraft create loud sounds that can travel for miles, sometimes drowning out the calls of whales, fish, and other marine life. By studying these human-made noises, scientists can suggest ways to reduce their impact, helping both people and marine animals share the ocean more peacefully.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Earthquakes, waves, wind, and ocean currents constantly generate acoustic energy in the marine environment. These sounds provide important context for marine life, influencing how animals communicate, navigate, and detect predators or prey. By studying environmental noise, scientists can also monitor natural events, understand ocean dynamics, and assess how human activity may impact ocean acoustics.
Scroll theough the image below to see many of the acoustic signals that are of importance in the oceanic soundscape. If there's one that interests you, click on it to learn more and hear a sample of the sound.
