IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE HAVING WHALE OF A TIME

SCIENTISTS have discovered singing giant whales swimming near the shore are causing the earth to move on land with their powerful bass notes.

- BY LYNNE KELLEHER

It is known in scientific circles that fin whales - the second largest animal on the planet - hit underwater singing notes as loud as the 190-decibel roar of a jet engine.

Now, scientists in Ireland have found the booming songs from these sea giants are like the opening line from Carole King's hit song causing the earth to move under our feet on land up to four or five kilometres from shore.

The Dublin-based physicists have found the unmistakable, low-pitched notes or calls from the whales have been showing up not just on sea floor instruments but, in a surprise twist, on landbased seismometers used for measuring earthquakes as well.

"Literally the ground goes up and down," said Dr Martin Mollhoff. "You sit there in your house, and if you're close enough, within a few kilometres of the coast at Galley Head or Waterford, then everything moves, which is an interesting idea.

"It's so small that we don't feel it, but the seismometers are so sensitive that they do."

The discovery, which was published in the Scientific Reports journal, was made following a passing comment at a meeting.

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