Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science

Whales enjoying the sound of silence as COVID-19 pandemic reduces ship traffic

Deep-water probes now record fewer decibels of noise as the coronavirus has put a halt on maritime traffic.

Jordan Strickler by Jordan Strickler
April 28, 2020
in Science
Whales and other sealife have experienced a dramatic decrease in noise pollution this year. (Image: Pixabay)

COVID-19 might be terrifying the rest of the world, but the whales sure are probably enjoying it. Declines in the economy due to the coronavirus have slowed exports and imports by around 20 percent and this has caused a dramatic decrease in the ocean noise.

Oceanographer David Barclay of Canada’s Dalhousie University and his team have been analyzing ocean sound signals from seabed observatories run by Ocean Networks Canada near the port of Vancouver. Their observations of sound power in the 100 Hz range from two sites have revealed a decrease in noise level of up to five decibels.

“There has been a consistent drop in noise since January 1, which has amounted to a change of four or five decibels in the period up to April 1,” Barclay told The Guardian. “Generally, we know underwater noise at this frequency has effects on marine mammals.”

The two research locations include a deep-ocean site approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Vancouver port in 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) of water and a more shallow inland site. The deepwater location recorded a drop in weekly noise of 1.5 decibels.

A study of baleen whales after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 showed that the reduction in ship and air traffic was associated with a reduction in chronic stress in marine mammals.

“We are facing a moment of truth,” Michelle Fournet, a marine acoustician at Cornell University, who studies humpback whales in southeast Alaska, told The Guardian. “We have an opportunity to listen – and that opportunity to listen will not appear again in our lifetime. “

“We have a generation of humpbacks that have never known a quiet ocean,” said Fournet.

The drop in tourism has also been a source of the decline of ocean traffic, another added benefit for cetaceans. Late April generally marks the beginning of the cruise ship season in southeast Alaska with boats docking in Vancouver before heading to the 49th state.

“What we know about whales in southeast Alaska is that when it gets noisy they call less, and when boats go by they call less,” said Fournet. “I expect what we might see is an opportunity for whales to have more conversation and to have more complex conversation.”

“The clearest benefit of the reduction in vessel traffic is to humpback mothers and nursing calves, who tend to be somewhat reclusive,” Marc Lammers, research coordinator for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, told Hawaii’s Star-Advertiser. “Not having humans either trying to view them or, in some cases, interact with them will be a huge benefit for the mother, whose priority is to protect and nurse her calf so it can be strong enough to make the trip to Alaska. It allows her to conserve her energy and transfer that energy to her calf in peace, without having to respond to stand-up paddlers and five or six boats approaching at a time.”

Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Related posts:
  1. Almost total silence: acoustic absorber cancels 99.7% of sound
  2. A steep traffic toll in NYC would reduce traffic and pollution, study finds
  3. AI traffic light system could reduce traffic jams and save cities a lot of money
  4. This animation shows how European air traffic has plummeted due to the pandemic
  5. Death creeps through the brain as a “spreading wave” of silence and inactivity
Tags: coronavirusCOVID-19oceanswhales

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW