Noise pollution affects marine animals, too. As shown in the image, whales are particularly vulnerable because they communicate through sound. Which of these changes could reduce noise pollution underwater?

Question

A diagram shows sources of noise pollution underwater: ship noise, seismic surveys, pingers, echosounders, and wind farm development. It also shows whales attempting to communicate with sound, but this is drowned out by other noise.

A
Increase ship traffic so noise stays at one level

B
Use quieter methods to power boats, like sails

C
Require ships travel in specific paths that animals can avoid

D
Relocate marine animals to areas where the boats don’t go

Answer 1

To reduce noise pollution underwater and help protect marine animals like whales, the best option from the provided choices would be:

B - Use quieter methods to power boats, like sails.

This option directly addresses the source of noise pollution by suggesting a method that generates less noise. The other options either do not effectively reduce noise pollution (like increasing ship traffic or relocating animals) or could potentially still expose marine animals to harmful levels of noise (like requiring ships to travel in specific paths). Using quieter technologies would likely create a more conducive environment for marine life, particularly for species that rely on sound for communication.