Whales Experiencing Less Noise During Pandemic
The waters of Glacier Bay, Alaska, were quieter on the fourth Friday of May in 2020 than on the same day in 2018, as captured by a National Park Service hydrophone. Noise levels in 2018 were higher because of boats and cruise ship traffic. Some unmarked peaks are from tidal noise.
140 dB
Friday, May 25, 2018
Vessels passed the hydrophone 16
times throughout the day. Here’s one of them.
120
100
80
60
6 a.m.
9 a.m.
12 p.m.
3 p.m.
6 p.m.
9 p.m.
Friday, May 22, 2020
Vessels were quieter and passed less frequently.
Most of the day sounded like this.
140
dB
Friday, May 25, 2018
Vessels passed the hydrophone 16
times throughout the day. Here’s one of them.
120
100
80
60
6 a.m.
9 a.m.
12 p.m.
3 p.m.
6 p.m.
9 p.m.
Friday, May 22, 2020
Vessels were quieter and passed less frequently.
Most of the day sounded like this.
140
dB
Friday, May 25, 2018
Vessels passed the
hydrophone 16 times.
Here’s one of them.
120
100
80
60
6 a.m.
12 p.m.
6 p.m.
Friday, May 22, 2020
Vessels were quieter and passed
less frequently.
Notes
Sound data is the equivalent continuous sound level measured every 10 minutes in decibels relative to 1 micropascal.