Transients and trends

The sea around us is far from silent; it is noisier than the average environment on land. This is the conclusion of a study of the sounds of the sea available from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Scientists at the American Museum of Natural History who made the study for the Navy say the average level of sea noise is about 10 to 15 dB above 1 microbar. This noise level is roughly comparable to a busy office with typewriters clattering, papers rustling, people walking and talking, and telephones ringing.