Articles tagged with Sonar
A recent paper by George Mason University professor Chris Parsons highlights the link between US Navy sonar and mass whale strandings worldwide. The study reveals that sonar is killing more whales than previously known, emphasizing the need for stricter environmental policies.
Researchers discuss how noise affects marine mammals, including beaked whales and killer whales, as well as the impact of urbanization on bird communication. The study highlights various mechanisms animals use to compensate for elevated noise and explores the effects of sonar and other human sounds on marine and land animals.
Researchers found that bats emit exceptionally loud sounds of up to 140 dB SPL to detect small insects in air using echolocation. The study's results showed that the high frequencies emitted by the bats serve as a countermeasure to attenuation, allowing them to effectively hunt despite the limitations of ultrasonic frequencies.
Researchers have developed an algorithm that can replicate the bat's ability to classify plants using echolocation. The study found that plant echoes are highly complex signals due to numerous reflections from leaves and branches.
Researchers have identified a remarkably well-preserved fossil of the most primitive bat species known to date, Onychonycteris finneyi. The discovery reveals that bats evolved the ability to fly before developing echolocation, providing conclusive evidence for this evolutionary order.
Scientists have discovered giant mud waves in the Arctic Ocean, measuring nearly 100 feet across, defying previous expectations of calm ocean currents. The expedition aims to understand how water is exchanged between basins and how the Arctic affects global climate systems.
A new study has found that bats exhibit unparalleled genetic variation in the FOXP2 gene, which is linked to their unique ability of echolocation. This discovery adds weight to the theory that FOXP2 plays a crucial role in the sensory-motor coordination of vocalizations.
Toothed whales developed sonar to track squid in surface waters at night, allowing them to follow cephalopods as they migrated downwards into darkness. This led to the refinement of echolocation systems, enabling whales to hunt squid in deep ocean depths.
A new study found that insular horseshoe bats exhibit distinct ultrasonic call frequencies, allowing them to recognize their own species. The presence of a third species on the island may be driving this 'private bandwidth' for communication, with implications for social interactions and sexual behavior.
A NASA-funded robotic sub, DEPTHX, explored Mexico's El Zacatón sinkhole, revealing new information about the geothermal sinkhole. The vehicle mapped the cenote's interior using sonar technology and collected samples of water and biofilm coating its walls.
Carnegie Mellon University researchers developed the software that guided NASA's DEPTHX craft to safely operate in a complicated, unexplored three-dimensional space. The mission aims to explore the world's deepest sinkhole, La Pilita, and develop technologies for future ocean exploration.
Researchers have found that beaked whales can dive as deep as 1,900 meters in search of food, with a maximum duration of 85 minutes. The team's analysis suggests that the whales' extreme diving behavior does not pose a decompression risk from naval sonar exercises.
Researchers have discovered an extensive system of deepwater coral reefs off Miami and Bimini, which are likely to harbor diverse marine life. The newly mapped areas will be explored using submersibles and autonomous underwater vehicles to assess their ecological importance and search for pharmaceutical compounds.
Researchers discovered that bats employ sophisticated techniques to locate prey in cluttered environments, including adjusting the timing and frequency of their ultrasonic pulses. By analyzing high-speed camera footage and audio recordings, the team found that bats 'strobe' the air with sound to distinguish insects from background noise.
Scientists develop a new sonar method to detect squid egg clusters, allowing for efficient mapping and estimation of squid populations. This technique has immediate potential to provide resource managers with sound scientific information to sustain the fishery and protect the species' genetic diversity.
A new MIT sensor system tracks enormous fish populations over a vast area, revealing the first-ever images of these groups. Researchers observed fractal patterns and 'waves' of population density, potentially indicating communication among fish.
A novel autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) has photographed the ancient Greek shipwreck on the ocean floor, revealing detailed images of cargo remnants. The project marks a significant milestone in underwater archaeology, using advanced technology to survey and map shipwrecks with unprecedented accuracy.
Researchers found that bats with functioning touch-sensitive receptors on their wings can fly more accurately and snag their prey in midair. The study also reveals the importance of Merkel cells, specialized 'touch' cells common in human skin, which help bats detect airflow across their wings.
Researchers at NC State University have developed a new mine-detection method that uses time reversal to locate buried objects in the ocean floor without complex modeling or arrays of sonar transmitters. The method simplifies equipment and analysis, making it more feasible for naval mine detection.
The new sonar system, Advanced Sonar (SAS), offers four times the range and 36 times the resolution of traditional side-looking sonar. The CTTO facilitated a rapid transition by brokering a Memorandum of Agreement to incorporate SAS into the Mine Reconnaissance System.
Researchers discovered that fin whales sing low-frequency songs during krill feasts, which could be hampered by human-made noise. The study suggests that human activities like sonar and shipping may interfere with whale communication and reproduction, threatening population recovery.
Researchers aim to mimic bat echolocation using synthetic aperture sonar, allowing for more accurate detection of submarines and mines. By duplicating bats' ability to differentiate between echoes, naval sonars can identify objects separated by the width of a human hair.
Researchers mapped the primary auditory cortex of a pallid bat, revealing insights into the structure and function of its hearing system. The study found that neurons in the low-frequency noise-preferring region are systematically organized with respect to their sensitivity to interaural intensity differences.
Researchers aim to understand how sonar affects marine creatures by creating a sea sound simulator. The ESME project will analyze data from various organizations and develop mathematical models to predict environmental effects of different sonar types.
Researchers developed a multibeam sonar tool and interactive software to study fish behavior near dams. The tools allow for detailed analysis of fish movement, enabling scientists to understand why fish exert more effort to pass through bypasses.
Researchers at Brown University have discovered that bats can resolve sonar images with a higher quality and wider variety of orientation tasks than previously thought. Bats can process overlapping echo delays as little as two microseconds apart, resolving objects as close together as three-tenths of a millimeter.
A Yale University robot is modeled after bat and dolphin echolocation behavior, exploiting sensor mobility and rotating ears to pinpoint objects. The robot can detect and identify various objects, such as coins and ball bearings, with high accuracy and ease.