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D
In the Mediterranean Sea,an innovative whale detection system named SAvEWhales
(System for the Avoidance of Ship-Strikes with Endangered Whales)has been developed to
accurately locate sperm whales (in three-dimensional space.It aims to address the
leading cause of death among Mediterranean sperm whales:collisions()with ships.
By analyzing the species'characteristic clicks,the system can identify a whale's position
within 30 to 40 meters-roughly one to two body lengths for these 16-meter-long marine giants.
This precision allows sufficient time for ships to adjust their course or reduce speed when
whales are detected nearby.
Designed by a research team based in Greece,and led by Emmanuel Skarsoulis,the system
employs three buoys (arranged in a triangular formation.Each buoy is equipped with a
hydrophone(水中听音器)suspended 100 meters below the sea surface to detect acoustic(声音
)signals.When a sperm whale emits clicks-a form of echolocation used for hunting-the
system calculates the differences in the sound's arrival time at each hydrophone,enabling
triangulation(三角测量)of the whale's location.
A major breakthrough lies in using surface-reflected clicks to calculate whale depth.The
time gap between the direct click and its echo helps determine how deep the whale is.This
allows SAvEWhales to track whales up to 900 meters deep within a 10-kilometer range.
While promising,the system still faces challenges.It struggles to distinguish individual
whales in groups,and maintaining equipment at sea is difficult due to harsh conditions.
Moreover,the technology is only effective for species that use clicking sounds,such as sperm
whales,and is unsuitable for whales that communicate via songs,like fin whales.
Despite these limitations,experts believe SAvEWhales could be a valuable tool for whale
conservation,especially in critical areas like the Hellenic Trench-a key habitat for sperm
bined with other measures like speed limits and shipping lane adjustments,such
technology could help protect these endangered animals from ship strikes.
32.How does the SAvEWhales system mainly locate whales
A.By measuring sound arrival time differences.
B.By analyzing whale songs'frequency.
C.By identifying unique clicking patterns.
D.By tracking via satellite imagery
33.Which is a challenge facing the SAvEWhales system
A.Buoys being damaged by whales.
B.Limited tracking range in deep waters.
C.Ineffective for whales using songs.
D.Limited to Hellenic Trench.
34.What can be inferred about the practical value of SAvEWhales
A.Solved ship-strikes already.
B.Will soon fit all species.
C.Works better than speed limits.
D.Needs other strategies'cooperation.
35.Which would be the best title for the text
A.Mediterranean Sperm Whales'Trouble
B.Using Sound to Prevent Collisions
C.SAvEWhales:Ocean Exploration System
D.Acoustic Technology's Limitations
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