How far do the songs travel under water?
Blue whales could once communicate from pole to pole - that means halfway around the world! But due to increasing noise pollution of the oceans, this is believed now to be nearly impossible. Researchers tell us noise under water travels five times faster than above. Years ago while doing a humpback singing study, researchers working together in Mexico, Japan, and Hawaii, found when the song altered slightly in Hawaii, within several days it also altered in Mexico and Japan to match the Hawaiian singers. What this means has baffled researchers who promise to continue their hard work toward a better understanding of these beautiful and mystifying animals.
