New App Lets People Listen To Orca Sounds From The Pacific

[Judi Lynn]

19 November 2018, 8:42 am EST By Diane Samson Tech Times



An app for citizen scientists to take part in the effort to monitor the location of orcas has been launched this month.

Called Orcasound, the web app will live stream audio from hydrophones (underwater microphones) that will be placed near the San Juan Islands. This will help experts to locate and send boats to collect fecal samples or prey fragments to the area as soon as possible.

Orcasound And The Value Of Citizen Scientists
A computer algorithm currently analyzes the audio from a hydrophone and pinpoints the sound coming from orcas. However, the aid of human listeners is invaluable.

For a long time, citizen scientists have been useful at detecting orca noises from the trove of other sounds such as shipping traffic or the presence of other animals. Orcasound will make it easier for citizen scientists to access the audio and then alert experts of the marine mammals' whereabouts.

More:
https://www.techtimes.com/articles/235612/20181119/new-app-lets-people-listen-to-orca-sounds-from-the-pacific.htm