Sounds of the Bay

Plainfin Midshipman

PHOTO: Ron Caswell, roncasual @ Flickr

AUDIO: Margret Marcheterre and Andrew Bass

Sausalito houseboat residents thought that this loud humming might be from a secret Navy program, faulty electrical circuits, or even extra-terrestrials!

Snapping Shrimp

PHOTO: Crabby Taxonomist @ Flickr

You can hear the snapping shrimp’s popping and snapping sound underwater at almost any beach in the world where you might be swimming.

Croaker

PHOTO: Scott Sherrill-Mix, Scott SM @ Flickr

AUDIO: David Mann

One of the many fish species that “chorus” to keep tabs on their community and kin.

Herring FaRTs

PHOTO: Nemo's great uncle @ Flickr

AUDIO: Rodney Roundtree, FishEcology.org

The Fast Repetitive Tick or “FaRT” is actually caused by gas being expelled through their anus and thought to be a “social sound” for herring.

Underwater Communication

ILLUSTRATION: Nautronics, visualization of Audio Frequency Shift Key (AFSK) signal

Radio waves do not work underwater, so “acoustical modems” are used to control submerged equipment and vessels.

Pile Driver

AUDIO: Gianni Pavan, CIBRA, Università di Pavia

Building bridges, shoring up coast lines, refurbishing docks and piers, and installing offshore wind generators on the water all require pile driving.

Shipping

PHOTO: Derell Licht @ Flickr

Supertankers and large cargo and container ships have propellers that can range from 10 -30 feet in diameter, moving hundreds of tons of water (and cargo) at each turn.

Motor Boat

Using fast-turning propellers create lots of turbulence. These smaller boats are among the loudest underwater noise sources for their size.