Last updated: June 12, 2020
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Exploring Sounds
NPS Photo
A soundscape is the natural and man-made sounds in an area. Mount Rainier’s soundscape is full of interesting sounds. From the rumbling of rocks falling, to the tweeting of birds, to the laughter of a family around a crackling campfire, sounds are everywhere in the park!
Scientists are curious about the natural soundscapes in Mount Rainier and how human sounds might impact animals living here. A natural soundscape is the combination of all the natural sounds in an area. These sounds are important for ecosystems, the web of living and non-living things in a place, to work properly. For example, some animals rely on using sounds to hunt their prey. If human sounds interrupt an animal trying to hunt, it might make hunting harder.
To study soundscapes in the park, scientists set out instruments that record all the sounds in an area and measure how loud they are. Learn more about Mount Rainier’s soundscapes and explore sounds here! Try the activity below to monitor the soundscape in your community.
Sound Mapping
- Grab a journal with a blank piece of paper & a pencil
- Find a place to sit outside
- Sit still and listen to the sounds around you.
- Mark an X in the middle of your map to show where you are sitting. As you hear a new sound, draw a picture on your map to show where that sound is coming from. Do this for 5 minutes.
- Make a list of natural sounds and a list of man-made sounds from your map. Reflect on the sounds you noticed and how they might interact with each other.
Sounds Explorer Junior Ranger
Become a Sounds Explorer Junior Ranger! Explore sounds you hear in parks. Learn the science of sound and why sound is important to parks. Protect sounds you hear in parks and at home. Check out the activity book here.