Glaciologist Erin Pettit was on a kayaking trip in Glacier Bay in 2006 when she first wondered what kind of noise the glaciers were making under the water. Her new research shows the answer to that question is a lot – and not just when the glaciers are calving. Here’s the sound of a glacier pressurized bubbles being released from a glacier.
The study shows the animals – like seals and whales – who live and feed near glaciers have adapted to a noisy environment and will have to adjust to much quieter surroundings when global warming forces the glaciers to retreat onto land.
She says on the kayaking trip she was watching one whale interact with the glacier.
Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.
