A recently rediscovered audio recording from 1949 may be the earliest known capture of a humpback whale song, predating the famous 1970 album “Songs of the Humpback Whale” by over two decades. The recording was found during digitization efforts at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts and offers a rare glimpse into the ocean soundscape before significant human-caused noise pollution.
Early Underwater Acoustics
The recording was etched onto a fragile plastic disc using a Gray Audograph, a dictation device popular in the late 1940s. Researchers aboard the R/V Atlantis captured the sounds while testing sonar systems near Bermuda, unaware of the significance of their findings. At the time, the field of marine bioacoustics was in its infancy; scientists William Schevill and Barbara Lawrence were among the first to systematically study whale sounds. Their early work with hydrophones identified beluga whale vocalizations in Canada, but many recordings from this era have been lost to deterioration.
The Value of Early Data
This discovery underscores the importance of preserving even seemingly meaningless data. As WHOI Director of Research Data and Library Services Ashley Jester points out, “Preserving data when it is created is an investment in the future of science… These recordings remind us why we collect data, even when we don’t immediately know what it means.” The 1949 recording provides a baseline for understanding how humpback whale vocalizations have changed over time, as well as measuring the impact of human activity on marine ecosystems. The ocean is significantly louder today due to increased shipping, industrial noise, and other human sources; this early recording allows scientists to assess those shifts.
From Audographs to Autonomous Robots
Today, WHOI uses advanced technologies like passive acoustic buoys, Slocum gliders, and the Robots4Whales program to monitor underwater soundscapes. The latter uses autonomous robots equipped with the Digital Acoustic Monitoring Instrument (DMON) to detect whales in real-time, track their movements, and assess the effects of noise pollution. As marine bioacoustician Peter Tyack explains, “Underwater sound recordings are a powerful tool for understanding and protecting vulnerable whale populations… By listening to the ocean, we can detect whales where they cannot easily be seen.”
The rediscovery of this early humpback recording serves as a reminder of how much we still have to learn about marine life and the importance of preserving scientific data for future generations.
This forgotten soundscape from 1949 offers a unique perspective on the ocean before it was dominated by human noise, highlighting the need for continued research and conservation efforts.
