Noise pollution is one of the serious yet least recognized health threats of our time. Noise increases risks of heart disease, cognitive damage and developmental delays. Now, scientists are revealing that non-humans, too, suffer from noise pollution and that they are far more sensitive than humans. Also, marine animals see and sense the world through sound, which travels farther underwater than light. But scientists are now revealing that a vast range of marine creatures are extremely sensitive to sound. The range of negative effects cause by marine noise pollution is astonishing: delayed development, slow growth, etc.
Aquatic (水生) plants are highly sensitive to sound. Take marine seagrass for example, just like forests on land, seagrass is a carbon sink (碳汇), contributing to stabilizing our global climate. In the past few decades, seagrass meadows the size of the Amazon have vanished. Climate change, pollution, boat anchors and the building of seawalls and harbors are all likely factors. As researchers at the Technical University of Catalonia have recently discovered, we can now add noise pollution to this list of threats. When the scientists exposed a sample of Mediterranean seagrass to powerful blast-level sound, the seagrass was severely damaged. Their sensitive hearing is an advantage in the dark depths of the ocean, but it makes aquatic organisms very vulnerable. Loud underwater sounds can damage or destroy their hearing ability. These effects occur at much lower intensities (强度) of sound than are known to be damaging to animals on land.
These findings stress the vast threat that marine noise pollution poses to our oceans. As offshore operations — from seabed mining to oil and gas and renewable energy construction — are increasing, little thought has been given to noise pollution. While exposure limitation levels haven't yet been determined, it is clear that this emerging science will lead to new restrictions on the permitting and operations of marine industrial and shipping activities.
Pack the car and explore what New York State has to offer. Here are four family-friendly destinations where you and the kids can play, learn and have endless amounts of fun.
Sullivan Catskills
This year-round water park features 11 attractions, including an activity pool, a rope bridge challenge and slides. The room is kept at 84 degrees, which prevents any outside Catskill cold. It opens from Thursday to Sunday.
Vidbel Mountain Homestead
This fifth-generation nonprofit farm cares for several animals, many of which are rescues. The farm works to teach children to care for the resident horses, pigs and dogs. This season, the farm is open to anyone who would like to see the animals, with a special focus on child and adult visitors with special needs or dealing with illness. No admission fee.
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
It's a nonprofit organization located at the historic 1969 Woodstock Music Festival site. Guests are welcome to explore the preserved site that held the famous festival. The center also has a museum that features artifacts from Woodstock.
Thomas Cole National Historic Site
The site has been additionally fitted with digital storytelling equipment intended to engage people of all ages and while original artworks are on display, there are also things to touch and explore.