Exploring Underwater Acoustics & Whale Communication
Adam Khaniev • Yehor Zavidchikov • Artem Bobrov • Dmytro Kopot
Our experiment's purpose is to understand how whales communicate underwater. By studying how sound travels through water under different conditions, we aim to uncover the principles behind one of nature's most fascinating communication systems.
Understanding the physics of underwater sound propagation
Whales communicate underwater using sound waves — mechanical energy that moves through a medium by causing particles to vibrate. Sound behaves differently in water compared to air because water particles are packed much closer together. Sound travels through air at about 343 m/s, while in water it travels at around 1,480 m/s — almost four times faster. This helps whales communicate over vast distances.
The loudness of a sound is measured as intensity. As sound travels away from its source, the intensity decreases due to attenuation — the waves lose energy as they travel and become weaker.
Water temperature affects sound propagation. In warm water, particles move faster, allowing sound to travel slightly faster. In colder water, sound travels more slowly. Because the ocean has different temperatures at different depths, sound can sometimes bend or change direction.
When sound waves hit an object, they may be absorbed, reflected, or scattered. Soft materials like sponges absorb sound, while hard surfaces like rocks reflect it. Obstacles can reduce the strength of sound.
We hypothesized that different water conditions — including temperature changes and physical obstacles — would significantly affect how sound propagates underwater, altering both its speed and intensity.
The key factors in our experiment
Temperature, obstacles
Measured in decibels (dB)
Tools and equipment used in the experiment
See the science in action
See how we conducted our experiment step by step
Our results revealed fascinating patterns in underwater sound propagation. The average sound intensity measured approximately 110 decibels in hot water conditions. The results with obstacles surprised us significantly — showing notably lower values than expected. Our analysis focused on how sound propagates through different conditions, including the effects of styrofoam and glass barriers. According to our findings, obstacles don't impair whale communication severely enough to be considered significant.
Sound Intensity by Condition (dB)
Sound propagation underwater is affected by various conditions, either amplifying or diminishing its intensity. By testing different scenarios, we found that while conditions do alter sound behavior, they generally don't create insurmountable barriers. Even when the sound's path is blocked by obstacles, it can still be transmitted effectively. This helps explain how whales can communicate across vast ocean distances despite varying underwater conditions.
Sources that informed our research