ENVIRONMENT REPORT - Navy Sonar and Ocean Animals

ENVIRONMENT REPORT
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August 2, 2002: Navy Sonar and Ocean Animals

By Caty Weaver¹

This is the VOA Special English Environment Report.

American officials have approved a plan for the United States Navy to use loud, low-frequency sound wave
devices on two ships in the world ’s oceans. The new sonar system will be used to search for especially quiet
submarines. The device works by sending sound waves through the water. When the sound waves hit an object,
its presence is confirmed.

The new sonar system can find objects ten times farther away than the sonar used now. The Navy plans to use the
new system in eighty percent of the world’s oceans. The noise from the sonar device is about as loud as a large
airplane leaving the ground.

The Navy has permission to use the new sonar system for five years. Officials say the Navy will have to follow
rules on when and where to use the sonar devices.

They say the Navy will not be permitted to use the sonar if whales are seen within two kilometers of the ships.
The sonar also will be banned within nineteen kilometers of any coast.

The Navy also is required to investigate the possible effects of the sound waves on
ocean animals. This includes the ability of whales to communicate with each other.
The officials say these measures will protect the animals from any serious harm.

However, environmental activists³ do not agree. One group, the National Resources
Defense⁴ Council, may take legal action to try to stop the Navy ’s plans. The group
criticizes putting the system into operation before knowing its possible effects.

The National Resources Defense Council also notes that past military sonar has
killed whales. Two years ago, the Navy used very loud sonar devices in deep waters
around the Bahama Islands. More than fifteen whales and a dolphin later were found
trapped on land along several coasts. At least six of the whales and the dolphin died.

The National Marine² Fisheries Service and the Navy investigated the incident. Investigators⁵ said the noise from
the sonar led to the deaths of the ocean animals. They also found that all but one of the dead whales had bled
around the brain and ear bones.

The Navy says the new sonar system is necessary because other nations are developing quiet submarines. It says
the effect on sea life will be minor⁶.

This VOA Special English Environment Report was written by Caty Weaver.

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(Photo -Suzanne Canja)

1 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

2 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。