CO2 Emissions Could Generate Noise Pollution in the Oceans
31 December 2009 | Green News | No Comments
Since CO2 emissions started to grow, researchers have begun to warn us of the seriousness of this process, using different scientific discoveries related to negative effects of carbon dioxide. Last days, some researchers at the University of Hawaii have discovered that along with the increasing level of CO2 emissions, increases the acidity of the oceans and seas too. When ocean acidity increases, sound-absorbing chemical reactions are reduced and that means the sound will spread in the water faster and noisier.
In upper latitude seas and in deep waters, the acidity increased very much lately (sound absorption has decreased by 60%), which means that in these areas, fish species will be drastically affected by noise pollution. Researchers said that sounds made by humans could jam marine mammal communication or echolocation sounds. These sounds come from ship propellers and military sonar( low-frequency sounds: 1.000-5.000 Hertz )and now have increased to a much higher intensity. Also sounds emitted by animals will be more intense, and this may cause disorders in biological underwater ecosystems. We still don’t know the effects of such pollution, but researchers continue to analysis this problem. However the best thing we can do about it is to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere as much as we can.
Tags: biological underwater ecosystems, Co2 emissions, echolocation sounds, jam marine mammal communication, low-frequency sounds, negative effects of carbon dioxide, noise pollution, reduce CO2, ship propeller sounds, sound absorption