Close your eyes, take out an earbud and listen. What do you hear?

More likely than not, you're noticing the sounds of moving vehicle traffic along one of the busiest streets in Richmond. Vehicle traffic is just one of many sources of noise pollution, an unwanted or disturbing sound that disrupts human or animal well-being.

Vehicle traffic, boats, construction, aircraft, industries and more all contribute to noise pollution on land and in the ocean.

Noise pollution can cause hearing loss, drive up your blood pressure and disrupt sleep patterns. It also can prevent some species of animals from communicating over long distances, hearing prey or predators, navigating their environment and hibernating in a consistent state.

Urban parks like this one can drastically reduce noise pollution within them by as much as half, as foliage absorbs sound waves much better than the reflecting qualities of concrete, brick and glass.

In places without human noise pollution, we can learn some amazing things about nature. If that sounds obvious, answer this question: what sound does a turtle make?