Is nature sending us a message? Amazing new recordings of sounds in the Arctic and Antarctic may help us to understand how global warming is changing the planet.
Barks, honks, grunts, growls, roars and moans
Is nature sending us a message? Amazing new recordings of sounds in the Arctic and Antarctic may help us to understand how global warming is changing the planet.
What's happening?
The Ross seal sounds a bit like a spaceship. The crabeater seal sounds a bit like a drill. And the whale oinks a bit like a pig.
But there are more worrying sounds too. An ice shelfA large floating platform of ice that extends from glaciers on the ground. falling into the sea sounds like a drum. The sound of some animals cannot be heard above huge blasts as humans search for new areas of oil and gas.
Scientists from Germany put underwater microphonesA tool that can record sounds or make them louder. on floats and left them in the water in the Arctic and Antarctic for two years.
Find out more
They collected the sounds of the poles - including some sounds humans have never heard before. Many of the sounds are natural, like the calls of animals and the movement of ice.
But others are made by humans, and they could be disruptingGetting in the way of or stopping something's normal function. the normal life of Arctic and Antarctic animals.
The scientists were worried by some of the noises. They know that global warmingThe Earth is getting hotter due to climate change. is causing ice to melt - and they could hear it on their recording.
Is nature sending us a message?
Yes! These noises show us how humans are changing the planet - even in places that are far away from where most people live. It is a sign to be more serious about slowing climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change..
No! The noises are very interesting. But they are just noises. We have no idea what the animal sounds really mean.
Keywords
Ice shelf - A large floating platform of ice that extends from glaciers on the ground.
Microphones - A tool that can record sounds or make them louder.
Disrupting - Getting in the way of or stopping something's normal function.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Barks, honks, grunts, growls, roars and moans
Glossary
Ice shelf - A large floating platform of ice that extends from glaciers on the ground.
Microphones - A tool that can record sounds or make them louder.
Disrupting - Getting in the way of or stopping something's normal function.
Global warming - The Earth is getting hotter due to climate change.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.