As CO2 levels increase in the atmosphere and in the seas around the world, the bodies of water become more acidic. It’s pretty clear that this is not beneficial to the ecosystems and the marine life that rely upon ecological soundness for their livelihood. New studies have shown that there can be additional detrimental effects that relate to marine mammals communication systems.

As rising CO2 levels create more acid in large bodies of water natural sound barriers are diminished. Natural chemicals in the water in essence prevent sound from travelling as far, and can make them quieter. As the acidic water effects the natural balance of things, unnatural, man-made  noises such as those generated from boat propellers, will increase in volume and could potentially effect the way that marine mammals communicate if their noises are drowned out.

It’s also fair to assume that as unnatural sounds get louder, so will the natural ones generated by the ocean which will allow sounds made by dolphins and whales to travel and be heard at greater volume. Further studies are necessary to determine if the increase in volume will apply to these sounds as well as the low-frequency ones created by man.

Source - GO Media - Written by Beth Graddon-Hodgson  - Image Via: Flickr User The Pug Father with a Creative Commons License

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