Just curious. It’s apparently strong enough to be of concern re injuring underwater life that’s sensitive to sonar, and various efforts have been made to reduce it’s use. Could it hurt a human being underwater if they were close to the thing that emits the signal?
Yes. Active sonar can produce sound pressure levels capable of incapacitating a human underwater in close proximity to a submarine, such as an enemy diver.
Note that the sonars at issue are operated from surface ships, not submarines. They are intended to locate submarines. As others have said the subs have powerful sonars as well, but the ones being used, as I understand it, are part the surface force.