People have long been fascinated by the beautiful songs of whales. With their ability to produce sounds spanning 8 octaves, far beyond the range of human voices, they have captured the imagination of many.

However, despite our appreciation of these songs, we know very little about the workings of the underwater communication system of these ocean dwellers.

Recent studies have shed light on the highly developed vocal communication skills of baleen whales, with the sheer volume of communication displayed by these large marine mammals being truly breathtaking.

Spearheading such research is Dr. Christopher W. Clark, head of the Bioacoustics Research Program at Cornell University.

Some people have placed countless hydrophones on the ocean floor in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and using this ubiquitous listening system, Dr. Clark and his team have tracked and analyzed thousands of hours of recordings of blue whales in the North Atlantic.

Their research has led to a remarkable discovery - "ultra-long-distance communication" between whales. Records show that a whale in the waters of Newfoundland can start a high-definition conversation with a fellow whale in the waters of Bermuda thousands of kilometers to the south.

This means that we must take a comprehensive look at the whale's communication system at the level of the whole.

Michel André, director of the Laboratory of Bioacoustics Applications at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Spain, has an even bolder view.

He believes that there is no end to the transmission of sound waves emitted by whales and that the only physical barrier that can prevent the transmission of sound waves is the continents.

Sound waves in the water travel at a speed of 1500 m/s, much faster than in air (340 m/s). However, this technology alone cannot fully explain the propagation power of the whales' songs.

The reason why the whales' songs can be so long-lasting is also due to another mystery of the ocean world - the deep sound channels throughout the oceans.

These channels are actually a number of water layers, depending on the latitude, located a few hundred to twelve hundred meters below the surface of the sea.

Due to the difference in density between the seawater mass and the characteristics of the guide sound waves, these channels become real high-speed "sound" roads.

However, these channels are only open to low-frequency sound waves, which makes whales the only large-scale users of them. With them, blue whales in Azores waters can communicate with their counterparts swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.

However, cetaceans have adapted and evolved in the ocean for tens of millions of years, and it is reasonable to assume that their communication is not limited to the basic needs of food and reproduction.

For half a century, marine biologists have been trying to unravel the mysteries of the underwater communication system of whales.

While we have made some remarkable discoveries, much remains unknown. However, it is clear that the whales' communication system is highly developed and plays a crucial role in their lives.

By continuing to study these fascinating creatures, we may be able to unlock some of the secrets of the underwater world and gain a better understanding of the complex and intricate relationships that exist between the inhabitants of the ocean.