Silence is golden for whales as lockdown reduces ocean noise

[Me.]

Curtailing of shipping due to coronavirus allows scientists to study effects of quieter oceans on marine wildlife

“In cities, human lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic have offered some respite to the natural world, with clear skies and the return of wildlife to waterways. Now evidence of a drop in underwater noise pollution has led experts to predict the crisis may also be good news for whales and other sea mammals.

Researchers examining real-time underwater sound signals from seabed observatories run by Ocean Networks Canada near the port of Vancouver found a significant drop in low-frequency sound associated with ships.

David Barclay, assistant professor of oceanography at Dalhousie University, the lead author of a paper reviewing the phenomena, examined sound power – a way of measuring “loudness” – in the 100 Hz range from two sites, one inland and one farther offshore. He found a significant drop in noise from both.”...

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/27/silence-is-golden-for-whales-as-lockdown-reduces-ocean-noise-coronavirus

[crickets]

1. K&R for visibility.

[Me.]

2. Thank You

I am so interested in what is happening in the natural world as humans have practically disappeared. Boars running down the streets of Paris, a herd of 50 elephants crossing a road with impunity in Thailand. The skies are so beautifully blue, water is clearing, more birds and bees around. It's a statement. And I have to wonder, as the population has more than doubled in the last 50 years, if Mother Nature is reclaiming what is hers.

[Me.]

3. My Kick For More