Through fiber-optic cables, researchers have been listening in on whales in the Arctic. A study was released in July by a group of researchers that frequently employed a practical technique to analyze the cables to track baleen whale behavior in the Arctic. Similar experiments, according to scientists, could revolutionize how experts gather aquatic life information.
Fiber-optic cables buried beneath the seas transport web traffic globally. They are now a standard tool for field researchers who want to gather and obtain information instantly. They are highly effective for locating earthquakes, especially aftershocks that conventional seismic stations miss. These cables were utilized in this instance to listen to whale sounds. According to the study, this is the first time widespread acoustical sensing has been used to monitor animals.
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Whale scientists like Bouffaut typically use hydrophones to track undersea whale activity. Although the hydrophone offers high-quality data, its range is limited. According to Bouffaut, hydrophones are usually placed between 10 and 20 kilometers apart. Similar to utilizing cellphone tower triangulate to determine the position of a phone conversation, this relatively close range gives researchers a good notion of where whales in the arctic may be situated. But because the oceans are so big, even a vast hydrophone system can only see a small portion of the surface. Contrarily, fiber-optic connections span vast swaths of the ocean floor.
Currently, networked acoustical detecting is employed to monitor the condition of submarine cables and can notify telecom firms of issues, such as a line break. The reason it works because the fiber in the cable is attached to a tool known as an interrogator, which transforms the fiber optic cable into a listening device, according to Bouffaut. At periodic intervals, the interrogator emits laser waves to the fiber-optic connection. The connection and the pulses traveling through it might be interfered with by noise or vibration. Researchers can figure out what’s happening around the cable, such as a whale screaming nearby, by monitoring fluctuations in the light reaching the interrogator.
The connection can start picking up the noises produced by whale songs, similar to how fiber-optic cable may takes up vibrations from an earthquake. The study found that whale species produce a sequence of repetitive brief and short wave pulses which show commonalities with airgun explosions. More information on baleen whales could help fill significant knowledge gaps, particularly in the melting Arctic where such research was conducted. Despite being among the largest mammals in the world, scientists lack sufficient knowledge on some whale species to determine if they are at risk or vulnerable.
Scientists could determine if whales are there in a specific area and if they have moved in a new direction via fiber-optic cables. Researchers might determine whether whales in the arctic are more likely to be struck by boats or entangled in fishing equipment if this information is paired with information on ship traffic. The data gathered is crucial for monitoring whales as they heal and adapt to a commercial fishing business.
Bouffaut is searching for further applications for the audio technique now that scientists have gathered the evidence for their study. Bouffaut wishes to consider whether they will capture at low frequencies. However, they can capture many distinct species and how deep researchers may go with their investigations.
