Sounds

What sounds are we listening for? From the North Atlantic, here are a few examples of the fin, humpback, right, and sei whale sounds that we can detect. Many are sped up to make them easier to hear (e.g., "24x" means the sound has been sped up 24 times). Many of the sounds large whales make are very low frequency and are therefore difficult to hear over computer speakers. Speeding up the sounds raises the pitch (frequency), which makes them much easier for us to hear. For each species, the clips below are of the same sounds, just sped up at different rates. To hear the sounds at 1x (normal speed), try using a great pair of over-the-ear headphones.

Fin whale "20-Hz" call:

24x:

Humpback whale singing:

1x:

2x:

4x:

Right whale "upcall":

1x:

2x:

4x:

Sei whale "LF downsweep":

1x:

2x:

4x:

Sei whale "LF downsweep doublet":

1x:

2x:

4x:

These sounds were recorded on the Nomans Land DMON buoy between March 2015 and March 2016. You are welcome to use them; please credit Mark Baumgartner, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.