Testing the Effects of Sonar on Sea Life.

• Author: Baker, A. Duffy
• Position: Brief Article

Sonar is a tool used by almost all seagoing vessels for various tasks, from pinging the sea bottom to make sure the boat does not ground itself, to locating fish or enemy ships.

However, the effects that sonar may have on various sea creatures is not well known. The Office of Naval Research, in Arlington, Va., has proposed creating a sea sound simulator. It will duplicate the generation of sound through the water and predict the effects on the behavior and physicality of marine life.

The project currently is titled ESME, or Effects of Sound on the Marine Environment. Data from a variety of...