Underwater Sound

Abstract

The introduction of human-generated sound into the marine environment began in earnest with the industrial revolution. The potential effects of such sound on marine mammals and ecosystems were not recognized as a concern until the 1970s when studies in the Arctic region indicated that some marine mammal species were responding to activities associated with oil and gas exploration and drilling. Since then, the issue has received increasing attention and been the focus of considerable controversy. The effects of sound and the uncertainty surrounding them are likely to increase in the foreseeable future as human populations grow and human activities in the marine environment increase.