Whales use sound for communication and navigation through a process known as echolocation and vocalization. Here’s how they do it:

1. Vocalizations: Whales produce a range of sounds, including clicks, whistles, and songs. These sounds are generated by passing air through vocal structures or by the movement of tissues in their heads. Each species has its own distinct set of vocalizations used for different purposes, such as attracting mates, signaling distress, or coordinating group activities.

2. Echolocation: Toothed whales (like dolphins and sperm whales) use echolocation to navigate and hunt. They emit high-frequency clicks that travel through the water. When these clicks hit an object, they bounce back as echoes. The whale listens to the returning echoes to determine the location, size, and shape of objects, helping them find prey or avoid obstacles.

3. Social Communication: Whales also use sound to maintain social bonds within their pods. For example, orcas have complex vocal patterns and dialects specific to their pods, which help them communicate and coordinate with each other. Similarly, humpback whales are known for their elaborate songs, which are thought to play a role in mating rituals and possibly in social interaction.

4. Long-Distance Communication: Low-frequency sounds can travel long distances underwater. Baleen whales, such as blue whales and humpback whales, use these low-frequency sounds to communicate over vast distances. These sounds can travel hundreds of miles through the ocean, enabling whales to communicate across great distances.

Overall, sound is crucial for whale survival, helping them with navigation, hunting, social interaction, and reproduction.