friday federal appeal court overturn 2012 rule allow u.s. navy use sonar train test routine operations low-frequency sonar employ navy show harm dolphins whale marine mammals.friday decision come response lawsuit file natural resources defense council late join environmental group suit allege low court decision allow use sonar direct violation marine mammal protection act.the court agree navy use sonar atlantic pacific indian oceans mediterranean sea violate section act require peacetime oceanic operations least practicable adverse impact marine mammals court also find guidelines set forth u.s. fisheries service give adequate protection areas world oceans flag experts biologically important court find result meaningful proportion world marine mammal habitat under-protected scientific american report unfortunately many whale dolphins marine life use underwater sonar short sound navigation range lead injury even death sonar systems first develop u.s. navy detect enemy submarine generate slow-rolling sound wave top around 235 decibels world loud rock band top 130. sound wave travel hundreds miles water retain intensity 140 decibels far 300 miles source.studies show use sonar cause whale swim hundreds miles even beach attempt get away sound use sonar also cause marine mammals bleed eye ears also cause temporary deafness condition leave animals vulnerable predators threats accord navy estimate use low frequency sonar expect kill 170,000 marine mammals cause permanent injury 500 whale additional 8,000 would experience temporary deafness.the late rule ban use sonar entirely huge victory environmental animal right activists.image credit whit well via wikipedia cc 3.0 federal court ban us navy use sonar harm marine mammals