How far does sound travel underwater?

[hennas]

Hi,
How far does sound travel underwater, and more importantly does it travel further in water than in air? If so why? I know that sound travels faster through water than air for obvious reasons (density), and I intuitively assume further, but I cannot explain why. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

It all depends on the absorption, where ever it is lower you get the the distance. Sorry I couldn't be bothered to do the math but the two links should give you numbers.

http://resource.npl.co.uk/acoustics/techguides/seaabsorption/physics.html
http://forum.studiotips.com/viewtopic.php?t=158

 

[Kenneth Mann]

This is not explanatory, but whales, using very low frequency sound, can communicate across oceans.

KM

 

[skeptic2]

To expand a little on what Kenneth Mann said, whales can emit sounds so loud they cavitate water. I have heard it suggested that before the days of motorized ships it would have been possible for a whale at the north pole to have been heard by one at the sourth pole.