Hello There, Are You Listening To Our Planet? Part 2 of 2

Arctic glaciers make powerful sounds. Source: How do you stop a glacier from melting? Simple – put up an underwater curtain | Antarctica | The Guardian

Acoustic and Sound Warnings

Our relationship with Earth is very old. For a long time, our Planet Earth has been giving us warning signals through sound and action — persistently. These warning signs have never been as loud or as widespread as they are today. Our Planet Earth is repeatedly telling us that things are changing around us rapidly and for the worse. Our planet itself may face collapse if we do not take heed and do something to prevent mishap now.

Here, in this blog, we will discuss a few more distressing parameters around our planet that are warning us in different ways.

Listen to Our Planet Earth: What Is Our Planet Earth Telling Us?

Here are five examples of sounds that illustrate what Planet Earth is “telling us”: We need to pay heed and act now.

1. Soundscapes of Climate Change Around the World

According to anchoragemuseum.org, the Arctic has its own distinct rhythms. The sounds of natural forces, animals, and humans come together to create their own kind of music — soundscapes that murmur and boom, throb and hum, crack and cry, rustle and sing.

Listening closely to the sounds and silences of the North opens an intimate understanding of place and climate change in Alaska. Therefore, a museum in Alaska opened an online sound library to monitor nature’s sounds. This is just one of many examples throughout the world monitoring changes in Earth’s soundscapes. Take a listen to learn more!

2. Soundscapes of Ecosystem Change Around the World

Florida ecosystems, among many others, harbor particularly rich soundscapes, with choral members representing a vast diversity of living things. The blanket of sound radiates from every corner and crevice of its beaches, marshes, and mangrove forests. However, these natural sounds are already competing with human-created noise. Source: sccf.org.

Marshes make incredible sounds. You only need to stop and listen. Source: Florida Raised

3. Soundscapes of Ocean Change Around the World

Today, more than ever before, oceans are warming at an alarming rate around the globe. The warming of seas increases the speed of sound underwater, and the degradation of marine habitats is increasing everywhere.

One example is the bleaching of corals. Disruptions in sound patterns confuse marine life, hindering navigation and communication methods. These denizens of the oceans have depended on cooler marine waters throughout their existence for millennia. Imagine how devastating changes in ocean temperature can be.

Scientists say that global ocean temperatures have risen by approximately 1.5ºF (0.8ºC) since the pre-industrial era (1850–1900) to (2011–2020), with the vast majority of this warming — about 33 ºF (about   0.60ºC ) — occurring after 1980.

Marine creatures are affected adversely by human activities. Source: Ocean Noise | NOAA Fisheries

4. Soundscapes of the Underground Realm of Earth Around the World

4.1 Extraction & Infrastructure

Mining, drilling for gas, and heavy construction create intense, constant vibrations

and sound waves that penetrate the ground, disturbing subterranean fauna.

4.2 Surface-to-Subsurface Noise

Intense vibrations from heavy traffic, airplanes, and industrial machinery on the

surface travel into the earth, disrupting burrowing creatures and soil-dwelling

organisms.

4.3 Seismic Surveys

The oil and gas industry uses loud air guns for deep-sea and subterranean

exploration, creating sounds up to 250 underwater decibels (dB) that damage

marine and coastal life.

Source: Human Noise is Harming Wildlife – Citizens' Environmental Coalition

Subterranean dwelling creatures are adversely affected by human activities such as this. Here, workers are digging underground to create a tunnel. Source: Tunnels and underground excavations | History, Methods, Uses, & Facts | Britannica; Ocean Noise | NOAA Fisheries

5. Harmful Effects on Flora and Fauna

5.1 Masking and Disruption

Chronic noise masks natural sounds crucial for animal communication and

predator avoidance.

5.2 Behavioral Shifts

Species may abandon habitats, stop mating, or face foraging difficulties due to noise pollution.

5.3 Ecosystem Degradation

The loss of sound-sensitive species can fundamentally alter ecological

communities and food chains.

6. Chronic Stress

Noise pollution induces stress, reduces acoustic diversity, and negatively affects biodiversity in protected areas.

Source: Human Noise is Harming Wildlife – Citizens' Environmental Coalition

Airplanes generate high noise pollution in and around airports. This creates danger not only for airplanes but also for birds. Pilots may not be able to see flocks of birds clearly, and some birds may hit the airplanes and die. This can also create hazards for the airplanes themselves, resulting in crash landings at times. It is known that birds can lose their orientation because the intense noise from airplanes interferes with their navigation ability. Source:  NWRC Research Areas: Aviation Safety | APHIS

Did You Know?

1. Average Noise Created by Human Machines Around the World

·       Factory Machinery: ~100 dBA

·       Heavy Machinery/Pneumatic Drills: ~120 dBA

·       Tractors/Construction Equipment: 90–115 dBA

·       Industrial Generators: Often exceed 85 dBA

2. Marine vs. Terrestrial Noise

Marine Noise

Natural pre-industrial ocean noise averaged around 80 dB, but commercial shipping has raised this above 120 dB in many areas.

Terrestrial Noise

While natural forest sounds are about 40 dB, noise near roads or urban areas often exceeds 70 dB, which is considered a significant pollutant.

3. Airport Noise Levels

Areas immediately surrounding airports typically experience average noise levels between 65 and 75 decibels (dBA), comparable to a running vacuum cleaner or heavy traffic. During takeoffs and landings, noise levels frequently peak at 100 dBA or higher, which is as loud as a rock concert or chainsaw.

Source:Airport Noise in San Diego: What Residents and Businesses Need to Know - Soundproof San Diego