The sound fixing and ranging layer in the ocean, or the  SOFAR  channel, is at a depth where the sound waves bend towards a region of minimum sound velocity due to refraction. This  channeling  of sound occurs because of the properties of sound and the temperature, and pressure differences at different depths in the ocean. There are many places where the sound waves can travel many thousands of meters without the signal losing significant energy. Keep in mind that the depth of the  SOFAR  channel varies with latitude. It is deepest in the subtropics and comes to the surface in high latitudes, where the sound propagates in the surface layer. Humans have taken advantage of this layer in many ways. One such use was the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) project. The  U.S.  Navy has an array of hydrophones, which were used in the past for deep ocean surveillance during the cold war, but have since been used for seismic monitoring, marine mammal monitoring, and for the  ATOC  project. In addition, before  GPS , the  SOFAR  channel was used for locating ships and aircraft in distress as well as for tracking floats for the study of ocean currents. The use of the  SOFAR  channel is not without controversy. Respond to the following: Research the use of the  SOFAR  channel for military, research, and biological activities. Discuss why the use of  SOFAR  channel could be harmful to marine life. Be specific in your examples. .

1. The sound fixing and ranging layer in the ocean, or the
SOFAR
channel, is at a depth where the sound waves bend towards a
region of minimum sound velocity due to refraction. This
channeling
of sound occurs because of the properties of sound and the
temperature, and pressure differences at different depths in the
ocean. There are many places where the sound waves can travel
many thousands of meters without the signal losing significant
energy. Keep in mind that the depth of the
SOFAR
channel varies with latitude. It is deepest in the subtropics and
comes to the surface in high latitudes, where the sound
propagates in the surface layer.
Humans have taken advantage of this layer in many ways. One
such use was the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate
(ATOC) project. The
U.S.
Navy has an array of hydrophones, which were used in the past
for deep ocean surveillance during the cold war, but have since
been used for seismic monitoring, marine mammal monitoring,
and for the
ATOC
project. In addition, before
GPS
, the
SOFAR
channel was used for locating ships and aircraft in distress as
well as for tracking floats for the study of ocean currents. The
use of the
SOFAR
channel is not without controversy.
Respond to the following:
Research the use of the
SOFAR

2. channel for military, research, and biological activities.
Discuss why the use of
SOFAR
channel could be harmful to marine life. Be specific in your
examples.