Introduction
Modern advancements have aided our generation and will help many to come. They brighten our rooms, power our cars, and cure our diseases. They seem to be revolutionary and make us wonder how we ever managed to live without them, but are modern advancements actually that good? There is an expression, to take the bad with the good, but what if the bad out weighs the good? Sonar is imperative to navigation, location, and observation, but it also is a danger to marine life, more specifically whales. It can confuse, injure or even kill whales, its unsafe to be using these types of devices. This is an issue because whales play a vital role in the food web and affect an estimated 5,000-12,000 different species (NBC News). Though whale injuries are quite horrific we do need sonar for research and new modern developments. This proves to be an issue over the controversy of whether or not sonars are acceptable to be used.
Sonar
Sonar is an acronym for sound navigation and ranging meaning that sound waves are used to move around and determine the distances between objects. Sonar is a crucial component to many seaworthy vessels. Civilians use it to map the ocean floor, determine water depths, find fish, and locate underwater objects such as pipelines, wrecks and wellheads. Naval uses are to find torpedoes, submarines, sea mines, swimmers, acoustic mines, and navigation. Sound is much more efficient underwater, traveling at a 3,403.5 miles per hour (mph), while only traveling at a meager 769.5 mph through the air; sometimes sound can travel even faster depending on temperature, salinity, density and pressure (Encyclopedia of Marine Science pg. 497). This is due to the close association of between water molecules. Sound is an out...
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...orm their pod.
Conclusion
Programs and petitions have been set up to protect the whales, but they only raise awareness. In 2003 the Navy agreed to limit the usage of sonar to a small percentage of the area before the court case (National Resources Defense Council). They also enforced seasonal rules, as to not interfere with breeding. In 2004 the European parliament ceases all active sonar.
Works Cited
"Bad News for Whales and Dolphins: Navy to Expand Sonar Testing - NBC News." NBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May 2014.
"Does Military Sonar Kill Marine Wildlife?" Scientific American Global RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
"Lethal Sounds." NRDC:. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2014.
"Seismic And Sonar Testing." Greenpeace. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.
"Sonar Does Affect Whales, Military Report Confirms." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, 08 Jan. 2008. Web. 01 May 2014.
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"NZ Dolphin Rescues Beached Whales." BBC News. BBC, 03 Dec. 2008. Web. 26 Feb. 2
whales have surprised scientists not only because of their size and strength, but also because
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The main focus in this article is the two killer whales that died from mosquito
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Ultrasounds use the same concepts that allow sonar on boats to see the bottom of the o...
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