# Do fish in oceans know it is raining **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 27, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493 "2020-07-27T13:38:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nansbread1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/1 "2020-07-27T13:38:47Z")
How aware are fish in the open ocean that it is raining? In other words do marine dwelling life ever alter their behaviour due to rain drops on the surface of the ocean. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/2 "2020-07-27T13:45:01Z")
Not fish but sea snakes can’t drink the ocean water they live in. Instead, they drink from the fresh water that concentrates at the surface when it rains. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/3 "2020-07-27T17:52:08Z")
What if a fish is crying? Would another fish know? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/4 "2020-07-27T18:08:07Z")
Only by their sobbing and the shaking of the shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/5 "2020-07-27T18:26:36Z")
Only if they cry loudly. In fact, some are known to whale. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/6 "2020-07-27T18:33:52Z")
Sound travels at 343 meters per second in air. Sound travels at 1500 meters per second in water. In air, you can easily hear the sound of raindrops hitting water for some distance. In water, I would imagine that it should be audible for a much longer distance. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/7 "2020-07-27T18:49:26Z")
Man, I don’t know how @running_coach could top that terribleness. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/8 "2020-07-27T18:56:05Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Sound travels at 343 meters per second in air. > Sound travels at 1500 meters per second in water. > In air, you can easily hear the sound of raindrops hitting water for some distance. > In water, I would imagine that it should be audible for a much longer distance. I have been swimming in the rain (I got terrribly wet) and can confirm the sound of raindrops hitting the water can definitely be heard under the surface. It’s quite a strange percussive sound. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/9 "2020-07-27T19:21:45Z")
I could try but if I succeeded, it would be a fluke. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/10 "2020-07-27T19:26:36Z")
Perhaps the sound gives the fish a haddock. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/11 "2020-07-27T20:30:59Z")
A related question is what do marine mammals do during a hurricane? I imagine the increased wave action close to shore creates a lot of debris and poor visibility, but what about in the open ocean? I would think whales, dolphins and such can just stay below to avoid the worst of the storm, but they do need to come-up for air - does that pose any risk to them? Can they drown? ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/12 "2020-07-27T20:32:30Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I could try but if I succeeded, it would be a fluke. C’mon, just for the halibut. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/13 "2020-07-27T20:37:24Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > C’mon, just for the halibut. Give it up. You’re floundering. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/14 "2020-07-27T20:50:52Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Give it up. You’re floundering. No. It was on porpoise. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/15 "2020-07-28T03:56:45Z")
Come on, folks. Reign it in. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/16 "2020-07-28T04:43:54Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > > [@QuickSilver](#): > > > > Give it up. You’re floundering. > > No. It was on porpoise That’s just an alewifes tale. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/17 "2020-07-28T07:55:28Z")
I always thought fish swim towards the surface when it’s raining, because the clouds and rain obstruct the sun. Less sunlight means less warmth means certain fish, on average, move towards the surface to maintain temperature. Might also have to do with air pressure. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/18 "2020-07-28T12:09:16Z")
Many years ago, I conducted an experiment precisely along these lines. Using my highly-calibrated Mark I Earball, I concluded that a human being can indeed hear raindrops striking the surface from underwater. Then my Granddad told me to get out of the pool. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/19 "2020-07-28T12:12:50Z")
A science fiction book I once read includes genetically-engineered sapient dolphins, and at one point one of the dolphins is musing on the phrase “reflections from the surface of the water”. Both humans and dolphins would find that a perfectly understandable phrase, but humans would interpret it as meaning reflections of light from above, while dolphins would interpret it as meaning reflections of sound from below. Any aquatic animal with vision or echolocation would be aware of the surface, and would certainly be aware that it’s agitated in different ways at different times. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493/20 "2020-07-28T13:01:49Z")
Along those lines I have assumes that the sea/water has it’s own ‘weather’ which may or may not be things we are familiar with. Rain in air, as perceived under water may be sort of how we perceive cloudy (less light then above, some obscurity of the surface). Wind = current, gusts = surges. Not that it is exact 1 for one, but the sea has it’s own patters that is somewhat like weather. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-in-oceans-know-it-is-raining/916493.md?page=2)