Cryptozoology: Leviathan - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Willravel · 12-16-2008, 12:35 PM

I was scanning through Reddit today when I came across the Bloop, which was something I remember reading about back when I was in maybe Middle School or High School.

The Bloop: In 1997, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration detected ultra-low frequency underwater sounds coming from about 50° S 100° W. These sounds were heard from well over 5,000 km away. It's normal for there to be odd oceanic sounds, commonly cause by natural phenomena such as earthquakes, but when reviewed carefully, it was determined that the sound was likely made by a living organism. For context, even the loudest whale-songs can only be heard at a maximum of 3,000 km away, and that's generally multiple whales singing simultaneously. No known animal can make a sound nearly as loud as the one detected, and it remains a mystery.
Bloop - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Damn Interesting The Call of the Bloop

Here is a recording: .wav

I remember authoring a report on a hypothetical organism that could have made such a noise, but I can't for the life of me find it so I'll have to remember what I can.

I'm going to make a few assumptions right off the bat:
1) This is a living organism which evolved on Earth
2) This is an organism which is native to the Ocean, near where the sound was pinpointed
3) This is not Godzilla or Cthulu

Here are the facts:
1) Organism
2) Larger than a blue whale
3) Has a/multiple gas filled sac(s) necessary to create sound,
4) Was heard only over a short period in 1997, and not since

Considering that the organism is so large and has gas filled organs, it's not unreasonable to guess it is a whale, or is at least an aquatic mammal of some sort. Considering also how closely the sound resembles that of a whale song, it may be safe to guess that the mechanism for producing the sound is similar to that of larger whales such as the humpback or blue whale. It may, then be safe to assume that this is a very large and undiscovered species of whale; a leviathan. If other large whales are any indication the diet of the leviathan is likely plankton or krill, however it's also possible that this species does not live in the same environment as other similar whales. Considering that only once have we recorded a sound from them and we've never seen one, they may live in a deeper area of the ocean than other whales, which could mean that they have a larger or even more efficient method of recycling air (as aquatic mammals do).

Thoughts?

shakran · 12-16-2008, 01:10 PM

it could also be an aberrant form of an existing species of whale. After all, humans have a normal vocal volume range, but few of us can get as loud as Ethel Merman

Willravel · 12-16-2008, 01:31 PM

That's a good point. It may be a known species that was simply born or developed in a different way. If humans can be born with gigantism, it's possible other mammals like whales can as well.

I'm really not sure if there's a Yao Ming whale joke in there, but I promise to look into it. Maybe I'll work sushi into it.

telekinetic · 12-16-2008, 01:46 PM

Dear Blue Lobster: Bloop: A Crustacean Phenomenon?

Quote:

To produce a sound strong enough ito be heard across 5,000km of ocean at depths averaging 4km, the sound would have had to originate at roughly 300dB — loud enough to cause violent hemorrhaging, disorientation, and death in humans. [...]

One theory that does hold merit is that the creature is a gigantic crustacean. Lobsters and crabs "burp" bubbles of carbon dioxide gas from their gills and often retain the air to belch at other species and to impress potential mates. Comparing the Bloop sound profile to lobster and crab species nets the most similarities aside from the obvious difference in strength the sound shares similar frequency rations and timing.

Should Bloop have been a giant, heretofore unknown crustacean species, it would explain the similarity of the sound to crustacean burping. A crustacean at such depths would need a shell a foot or more thick to protect it from the crushing weight of the ocean, would grow incredibly slowly, and would be part of a breeding population of perhaps just a few dozen individuals.

fresnelly · 12-16-2008, 02:04 PM

Or perhaps the ground "burped" as a large volume of gas was released from the ocean floor after some sort of breakthrough.

sadistikdreams · 12-17-2008, 11:19 PM

Um... Cloverfield?

PonyPotato · 12-18-2008, 03:47 AM

You're on Reddit, too?

I saw this and pondered it, as well.

Zeraph · 12-18-2008, 08:14 AM

A whale with gigantism, now there's an interesting thought.

It certainly sounds like something with a gaseous sack made the noise, but gas isn't required to make noise underwater. So that assumption is incorrect.

Willravel · 12-18-2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeraph

It certainly sounds like something with a gaseous sack made the noise, but gas isn't required to make noise underwater. So that assumption is incorrect.

That's true, many non gas-sack aquatic animals can make noise, but I believe one of the articles quoted scientists saying it sounded similar to a whale.

Kid_Karysma · 12-23-2008, 02:12 PM

Why don't animals get gigantism like humans do?

Zeraph · 12-30-2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kid_Karysma

Why don't animals get gigantism like humans do?

They probably do, they just don't survive in the wild because of the ill effects that come with it.

Willravel · 12-30-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeraph

They probably do, they just don't survive in the wild because of the ill effects that come with it.

Agreed, being big comes with baggage:

12-16-2008, 12:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Cryptozoology: Leviathan I was scanning through Reddit today when I came across the Bloop, which was something I remember reading about back when I was in maybe Middle School or High School. The Bloop: In 1997, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration detected ultra-low frequency underwater sounds coming from about 50° S 100° W. These sounds were heard from well over 5,000 km away. It's normal for there to be odd oceanic sounds, commonly cause by natural phenomena such as earthquakes, but when reviewed carefully, it was determined that the sound was likely made by a living organism. For context, even the loudest whale-songs can only be heard at a maximum of 3,000 km away, and that's generally multiple whales singing simultaneously. No known animal can make a sound nearly as loud as the one detected, and it remains a mystery. Bloop - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Damn Interesting The Call of the Bloop Here is a recording: .wav I remember authoring a report on a hypothetical organism that could have made such a noise, but I can't for the life of me find it so I'll have to remember what I can. I'm going to make a few assumptions right off the bat: 1) This is a living organism which evolved on Earth 2) This is an organism which is native to the Ocean, near where the sound was pinpointed 3) This is not Godzilla or Cthulu Here are the facts: 1) Organism 2) Larger than a blue whale 3) Has a/multiple gas filled sac(s) necessary to create sound, 4) Was heard only over a short period in 1997, and not since Considering that the organism is so large and has gas filled organs, it's not unreasonable to guess it is a whale, or is at least an aquatic mammal of some sort. Considering also how closely the sound resembles that of a whale song, it may be safe to guess that the mechanism for producing the sound is similar to that of larger whales such as the humpback or blue whale. It may, then be safe to assume that this is a very large and undiscovered species of whale; a leviathan. If other large whales are any indication the diet of the leviathan is likely plankton or krill, however it's also possible that this species does not live in the same environment as other similar whales. Considering that only once have we recorded a sound from them and we've never seen one, they may live in a deeper area of the ocean than other whales, which could mean that they have a larger or even more efficient method of recycling air (as aquatic mammals do). Thoughts?

12-16-2008, 02:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	Or perhaps the ground "burped" as a large volume of gas was released from the ocean floor after some sort of breakthrough. __________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

12-17-2008, 11:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
sadistikdreams lonely rolling star Location: Seattle.	Um... Cloverfield? __________________ "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." -Lin Yutang hearts, by d.a.

12-18-2008, 03:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
PonyPotato Soaring Location: Ohio!	You're on Reddit, too? I saw this and pondered it, as well. __________________ "Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark." — Henri-Frédéric Amiel

12-23-2008, 02:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kid_Karysma Crazy Location: The Top Rope	Why don't animals get gigantism like humans do? __________________ Click Here to See All the Karysma Collection. You Will NOT be Disappointed.

12-16-2008, 01:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	it could also be an aberrant form of an existing species of whale. After all, humans have a normal vocal volume range, but few of us can get as loud as Ethel Merman

12-16-2008, 01:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	That's a good point. It may be a known species that was simply born or developed in a different way. If humans can be born with gigantism, it's possible other mammals like whales can as well. I'm really not sure if there's a Yao Ming whale joke in there, but I promise to look into it. Maybe I'll work sushi into it.

12-18-2008, 08:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	A whale with gigantism, now there's an interesting thought. It certainly sounds like something with a gaseous sack made the noise, but gas isn't required to make noise underwater. So that assumption is incorrect.