How To Hear Halfway Around The World

The video explains how sound travels differently in the ocean compared to air, highlighting an experiment from 1960 where sound traveled from Australia to Bermuda. This phenomenon is due to the SOFAR channel, a layer in the ocean where sound travels the farthest due to varying speeds in different ocean layers. The SOFAR channel is used by whales and humans for long-distance communication and monitoring oceanic changes, such as temperature shifts, which are crucial for understanding the planet's health.

What was the significant observation made in 1960 regarding sound travel underwater?

• Sound traveled a few dozen kilometers in the air.

• Sound traveled faster in air than in water.

• Sound from an explosion was detected over 19,000 kilometers away underwater.

• Sound waves lost more energy in water than in air.

What factors affect the speed of sound in different ocean layers?

• Temperature and pressure

• Density and light

• Salinity and density

• Depth and salinity

Why can sound travel the farthest in the SOFAR channel?

• Because it is the warmest layer of the ocean.

• Because sound waves are absorbed by the ocean floor.

• Because it is the shallowest part of the ocean.

• Because sound waves are funneled and do not scatter.

How do whales utilize the SOFAR channel?

• For navigation

• As a long-distance communication tool

• For finding food

• To avoid predators

What can changes in the speed of sound in the SOFAR channel help scientists track?

• Ocean current directions

• Ocean temperature changes

• Ocean salinity levels

• Ocean depth variations