The World

The Noisy Ocean and its Consequences

For some sea creatures deafness can mean death, while for others, excess noise could hasten extinction.

Hearing for many sea creatures is as important as sight is to humans. Without sound they can’t tell where they are or who’s around them. And the sounds humans make in the ocean may be drowning out the regulars. Living on Earth’s Ike Sriskandarajah looks into the science of aquatic acoustics.