ScienceAugust 17, 2026
geophony
jee-AH-fuh-nee
Definition
The collection of sounds produced by non-biological natural phenomena in an environment, such as wind, rain, waves, or moving water.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'geo' (earth) and 'phone' (sound/voice), this term was coined in contemporary acoustic ecology to categorize the non-living acoustic components of natural landscapes.
In the news
The article introduces geophony as one of three primary components that constitute an ecosystem's soundscape, alongside animal-produced sounds (biophony) and human-made noises (anthropophony).
Worm munch matters: the new acoustic ecology of the soil
Read the full article ↗Aeon