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Biomagnetism
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Waves
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Infrasonic Waves
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Species: include Balaenoptera cetacea (Blue Whale). Physics Application(s) Overview: Bioelectricity; ultrasonics; infrasound Species distinctions: Blue Whale: Habits, physical and social structures: The Blue whale may be found in the vastness of the Arctic and Antarctic oceans as the whale is able to feed on the large amounts of plankton found there (icy water contains more oxygen and carbon dioxide than warm water and is the suitable region for marine life to inhabit). In the winter, the whales migrate to warm water to mate and bear young, however food there is scarce and the whales depend upon their storage of blubber to fulfill their required nourishment. The whales travel in groups called pods, composed of individuals who are close to one another. The whale is capable of reaching speeds of 10.0 to 15.0 knots, however most of its food is caught by diving, and as it rises, the whale feeds by collecting a large amount of water in its mouth, allowing it to strain out through the baleen in its mouth, where the plankton is caught in the baleen and licked off by the whale’s tongue. The Blue whale is a protected species after years of massacre by the whaling industry, who viciously pinpointed the whale due to its large size, which could be made into oil and corsets (baleen). From 1930 to 1931, thirty thousand (30,000) blue whales were killed and since then, the population is still recovering. Physics Application(s):
Infrasound: Blue whales are known to use infrasonic wavelengths to communicate with each other, where the infrasound travels thousands of kilometers through the ocean water, which acts as a superb conductor due to its salty content. Temperature and pressure variations found at the varying depths of the oceans will act as voice tubes and channel whale calls further than is usual, which allows for whales on the other side of the ocean to hear the calls. It is in such a fashion that pods may keep in communication with one another. Many other whales also use infrasound to communicate, whether it to used as a method to attract mates, warn rivals, communicate between the individuals of their own pods or of another pod, or to find food. Such whales include the Humpback whale, which has been found to have the most complex song of all organisms, where they can use "rhyme" such as humans in order to recall the complex tunes- their infrasound may travel more than 965.6 km (600.0 miles). However, manipulation of
the sounds the whales transmit or receive may interfere with The excess noise pollution being referred to is that which is generated by homo sapiens, who insist on machines and processes that produce large amounts of noise and infrasound (and ultrasound). Shipping, oil drilling, research equipment, navy sonar, and submarines jam the signals of whales and other organisms and the noise has increased during the last few years without the comprehension that human interference is liable to effect every individual whale found within a 650.0 square mile radius, a diameter of 1300.0 square miles. In some cases, the whales consider the sources of such loud noise, mostly ships, as an enemy, from which cows will protect their calves, keeping them from the open sea in fear a ship will harm them. It is also believed to be a possibility that certain beaching cases may be credited to human interference, such as the navy sonar, but thus far, the cases have not yet been proven, except for at least one case which was directly linked to navy sonar. It is hard to say how much excessive noise it will take from homo sapiens to discover the extent of damage done to the whales which are now protected from extinction by whalers but may find themselves too deaf and unable to communicate if not horribly disoriented.
Ultrasonics: Besides
using infrasound to
Anemaw [Animal Electromagnetism and Waves] © Elizabeth Gerrow 2002 . |
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Bioelectricity:
As is with other living organisms, the blue whale acquires a system of
electricity to allow for neural system processes and mechanics,
particularly when diving, migrating, breeding, and during labour.
their normal activities, which could affect an individual but,
macroscopically, affect whole populations of whales, as well. This
addresses the problem of large amounts of noise pollution found under the
water surface: sound, especially low frequency wavelengths, travels very
well in water and loud noises could enforce serious impacts upon the
whales, from subtle behaviourial changes- like the shortening or
lengthening of activity- to physiological impairment- like permanent
hearing loss. Regarding the pods, it could be that they may suffer
disturbances in migration, feeding, or other critical activities. Although
marine mammals are accustomed to the occasional subjection to loud sounds
and pressure changes, the extent of their toleration of vast amounts of
excess noise pollution is unknown, just as the extent of impairment done
to individuals and their pods is not understood.
communicate, the blue whales (and all other whales) may also employ the
use of ultrasound: they are capable of transmitting and receiving sound
such as clicks, grating, "rusty-hinge creaks", "muffled
smashing sounds" and several high-pitched ultrasonic wavelengths
which are believed to be for echolocation purposes, as well as
communication in attempts to keep the pods together as the group moves on,
particularly during migration. The sounds may be used to signal warnings,
greetings, as part of defense mechanisms, or as general signals.
