All this occurred immediately after a day of Navy sonar exercises in the area. Although a similar mass stranding had occurred in Greece, this time a marine mammal researcher had fresh samples. Balcomb collected the whale heads and sent them to the Harvard Medical School for CT scans. Even more disturbing to him, he said, is that since that day he has not seen any of the 35 photo-identified Cuvier's beaked whales he has studied for a decade. The Navy killed them.
Emotions always run high on the subject of whales, perhaps the most beloved ocean creatures.
Today, scientists and celebrities will rally to save the animals. But environmentalists say the system will harm whales and other sea life. Ship extends cable with speakers attached into ocean. Decibel levels in air are not equal to decibel levels underwater. Sound with an intensity of 215 dB in water equals an intensity of 155 dB in air.