What Nuclear Bombs Taught Us About Whales

In the 1990s, a global agreement was made to ban nuclear tests, leading to the creation of a sensor network to detect nuclear explosions. This network also picks up signals from other sources like volcanoes and icebergs. While this background noise complicates nuclear detection, it provides valuable data for other scientific purposes, such as tracking whales and studying meteoroids. The data has revealed more about weather patterns and earthquake epicenters, improving tsunami warnings. The system, initially designed for nuclear detection, has expanded our understanding of the planet and raised new questions about unidentified sound waves.

What was the primary purpose of the global sensor network established in the 1990s?

• To track whale migrations

• To detect nuclear explosions

• To monitor volcanic activity

• To predict weather patterns

How do scientists use the sensor network to study whales?

• By attaching tracking devices to them

• By using satellite imagery

• By observing their migration patterns visually

• By analyzing their songs to estimate locations

What has the sensor network revealed about meteoroids?

• They pose no threat to cities

• There are more meteoroids than we can see

• They are less frequent than previously thought

• They are mostly composed of ice

What discovery about Earth's atmosphere has been made using the sensor network?

• Winds are slower than predicted

• Winds above Earth's surface are faster and more variable

• The atmosphere is thinner than expected

• The atmosphere is denser than previously thought

How does the sensor network contribute to tsunami warnings?

• By locating earthquake epicenters

• By detecting changes in sea temperature

• By monitoring ocean currents

• By predicting volcanic eruptions