OSU researchers ask: What can we learn from the sounds of melting glaciers?

If a 10-billion-ton hunk of glacial ice falls into the arctic ocean and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

Erin Pettit and researchers at Oregon State University were set to find out.

They’ve been studying melting glaciers by dropping hydrophones — specialized underwater microphones — into the water near these massive ice formations. It turns out, glacial ice has a surprising song: Hissing, popping and sizzling of pressurized bubbles bursting, and low rumbling and crackling of glacial calving events. Some of these distinct noises can tell researchers how the formations have changed over time.

Pettit joins us to discuss her research and show us some of the sounds of glaciers she’s collected.

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