How loud is a fin whale?
Fin whale 20 Hz pulses have average source levels of about 189 dB re 1 µPa at 1 m, found both off Antarctica (189 ± 4 dB) and in the Northeast Pacific (189 ± 5.8 dB, from 1,241 calls). DOSITS says some fin whale sounds reach 190 dB.
- Level
- 189–190 dB re 1 µPadecibels relative to 1 micropascal, measured in water
- Distance
- 1 m1 m (source level, back-calculated from distant hydrophones)
- Daily limit
- Underwater levelnot an air level
What the numbers mean
How it was measured. Underwater level in dB re 1 µPa. Underwater decibels are not comparable with in-air decibels: see "underwater-vs-air". Average 20 Hz pulse source levels of 189 ± 4 dB (Southern Ocean) and 189 ± 5.8 dB (Northeast Pacific) re 1 µPa at 1 m; DOSITS gives up to 190 dB.
Two independent studies agree closely. Širović and colleagues measured fin whale calls off the Western Antarctic Peninsula at an average of 189 ± 4 dB re 1 µPa at 1 m over 15 to 28 Hz, with whales located up to 56 km away. Weirathmueller and colleagues used a network of eight ocean-bottom seismometers in the Northeast Pacific and averaged 1,241 calls to get 189 ± 5.8 dB re 1 µPa at 1 m, attributing most of the spread to uncertainty in the whales' positions.
DOSITS notes that fin whales produce low-frequency sounds, some as loud as 190 underwater dB, and that only male fin whales sing loud songs. Together with blue whales, their calls measurably raise ambient ocean noise at 17 to 20 Hz off California in autumn and winter.
Is it dangerous?
Measured in water against a 1 µPa reference, so the number cannot be compared directly with levels in air. See the underwater note on the Scroll. Marine-mammal and diver exposure criteria use their own metrics and are outside the scope of this page.
Protecting your hearing
No risk to people. The interest is the reverse: ship noise in the same low band can mask these calls.
Questions
How loud is a fin whale compared with a blue whale?
About the same: both average about 189 dB re 1 µPa at 1 m in studies off Antarctica.
Why are fin whale calls picked up by earthquake sensors?
Their 20 Hz pulses are low and powerful enough to register on ocean-bottom seismometers, which researchers in the Northeast Pacific used to measure them.
Sources
- Blue and fin whale call source levels and propagation range in the Southern Ocean, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (Širović et al., 2007) via PubMed. Supports: dB_low: 189 dB re 1 µPa at 1 m.
the average fin whale call source level was 189+/-4 dB re:1 microPa-1 m over 15-28 Hz
Checked 2026-11-02. - Source levels of fin whale 20 Hz pulses measured in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (Weirathmueller et al., 2013) via PubMed. Supports: 189 ± 5.8 dB at 1 m.
A total of 1241 calls were used to estimate an average source level of 189 ± 5.8 dB re 1μPa at 1 m
Checked 2026-11-02. - Fin whale (Audio Gallery), DOSITS, University of Rhode Island (Wayback Machine copy). Supports: dB_high: 190 dB.
some of which can be as loud as 190 underwater dB
Checked 2026-11-02.
This page is general information, not medical advice. If you have ringing in your ears, muffled hearing or any change in your hearing, see an audiologist or your doctor.