Oceans in year 2100 may 'sound' like dino-era seas

 Rising acidity could set underwater acoustic conditions back 110 million years



LiveScience Staff
NBC News
October 19, 2012
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49484120/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.UIMjLWlEQtp

Summary

       Global warming is a far reaching problem that is even affecting the sound conditions in the world's oceans. Firstly, the heightened levels of carbon dioxide, allow for more of the gas to dissolved into the waters. This in turn creates chemical reactions which increase the acidity of the oceans. Due to the lowered pH, the underwater sound absorption is decreased, which allows for better sound transmission (low-frequency sounds can travel significantly farther).
       With examinations of seafloor sediment, scientist have been able to discover the approximate pH levels of the past 300 million years and estimate the approximate levels of sound absorption. Acoustician David G. Brown predicts that sound conditions of modern day oceans are similar to the ones in Paleozoic Era 300 million years ago and will soon reach the levels of the Cretaceous period 110 million years ago.
       The information about the changing soundscape will affect how sonar systems are designed and the predicted performance they will have. In addition, it allows for more accurate estimations and understandings of the both the acoustic conditions surrounding marine animals and the effect of humans on the environment.

Connection

       The news article relates to our first unit on ecology since it describes one of the effects of human activity and global warming. Due to the high levels of carbon dioxide being added to the atmosphere, we are changing sound absorption in the water. Though this doesn't seem obviously bad, changes in environments can greatly affect the marine life and their niches. In addition, the article also connects to our second unit on matter and energy because it stresses the importance of pH since it affects the sound absorption of the oceans.