Imaging the Lung Under Pressure
Abstract
Recent reports suggest a link between mass stranding of beaked whales and the use of naval mid-frequency sonar. These reports have increased the concern that anthropogenic sound, such as that created by military sonar or during seismic exploration, may harm marine animals, particularly whales and dolphins. Primary issues have centered around direct auditory damage, resonance of gas containing spaces, and increased risk of decompression sickness (DCS) due to alteration in diving behavior or acoustic enhancement of bubble formation and growth. While a recent survey of causes of mortality in Massachusetts suggested that the vast majority of marine mammal strandings are not associated with sonar exposure (Bogomolni et al., 2008), there appears to be a relationship between the use of military sonar and mass strandings of cetaceans (Jepson et al., 2003). This has fueled an intense non-governmental organizational (NGO) scrutiny of the complex relationship between ocean noise, bubble injury and marine mammal strandings. There has also been significant interest in the topic, with a workshop held in Baltimore, MD USA in April 2004 (Cox et al., 2006). The workshop concluded that 'gas-bubble disease, induced in supersaturated tissue by a behavioral response to acoustic exposure, is a plausible mechanism for the morbidity and mortality seen in cetaceans associated with sonar exposure.' The need was stated for further investigation of the onset of lung collapse and its impact on nitrogen (N2) gas kinetics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 06, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA552181
Entities
People
- Andreas Fahlman
- Darlene Ketten
- Michael J Moore
- Peter Tyack
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution