Human screams can be quite loud, possibly exceeding 100 dB (as of March 2019, the world record is 129 dB!) —but you probably want to avoid that because screams that loud can hurt your ears! You should also have found sound levels drop off quickly as you get farther from the source.
Average Decibel Level of Human Speech
A whisper is between 20-30 dB. On the other hand, a human scream can reach decibel levels between 80 and 125 dB.
At 194 dB, the energy in the sound waves starts distorting and they create a complete vacuum between themselves. The sound is no longer moving through the air, but is in fact pushing the air along with it, forming a pressurized wall of moving air.
A normal conversation – 60 dB. A noisy restaurant – 70 dB. An electric drill – 95 dB. Jill Drake, a teaching assistant who in 2000 won the Guinness World Record for the loudest individual's shout – 129 dB.
100 – 120 decibels: For example, a bulldozer, impact wrench, or motorcycle. 120 – 140 decibels: Such as, a rock concert, auto racing, or a hammer pounding a nail. 125 – 155 decibels: Like, firecrackers or fireworks, or a jet engine. 170 – 190 decibels: For example, a shot gun blast or a rocket lift off.
This car siren advertised as being 300dB loud, which would make it approximately as loud as 1000 nuclear bombs at once.
Sounds between 170-200 dB are so intense that they can cause lethal issues like pulmonary embolisms, pulmonary contusions, or even burst lungs. As for exploding heads, you can expect that from sounds above 240 dB. However, such high intensity sounds are very rare.
Converting the energy of 1,100 decibels to mass yields 1.113x1080 kg, meaning that the radius of the resulting black hole's event horizon would exceed the diameter of the known universe. Voila! No more universe.
Common Sources of Noise and Decibel Levels
Noise above 70 dB over a prolonged period of time may start to damage your hearing. Loud noise above 120 dB can cause immediate harm to your ears.
4. The infamous Tzar Bomba reached probably 224 dB(Z) (releasing one fourth of the Krakatoa explosion), and accounts for the largest human-made noise.
But what about the loudest sound ever heard? On the morning of 27 August 1883, on the Indonesian island of Krakatoa, a volcanic eruption produced what scientists believe to be the loudest sound produced on the surface of the planet, estimated at 310 decibels (dB).
As you might imagine, too much yelling isn't good for your vocal cords. Whether it's too many rock concerts or frustration that needs a healthier outlet, chronic screaming will strain your vocal cords and can damage them over time. Other less-known ways you can damage your vocal cords include: Smoking.
You can even scream so loud that you burst a small blood vessel on your vocal cord and have a vocal fold hemorrhage," outlines Rupali Shah, MD with the UNC Dept. of Otolaryngology. Dr. Shah sees this more often than you might think, as she specializes in voice and swallowing disorders.
Loud noise is particularly harmful to the inner ear (cochlea). A one-time exposure to extreme loud sound or listening to loud sounds for a long time can cause hearing loss. Loud noise can damage cells and membranes in the cochlea.
Firearms Are Loud
Almost all firearms create noise that is over the 140-dB level. A small . 22-caliber rifle can produce noise around 140 dB, while big-bore rifles and pistols can produce sound over 175 dB.
The WHO guidelines for night noise recommend less than 40 dB(A) of annual average (Lnight) outside of bedrooms to prevent adverse health effects from night noise.
Car horn: 110 decibels. Nightclub: 110 decibels. Ambulance siren: 112 decibels.
Nuclear bomb – Explosion
A nuclear bomb explosion has been reported to be 240 to 280 dB+. A sound level meter set 250 feet away from test sites peaked at 210 decibels. At the source, the level is reported to be from 240 to 280 dB+.
DeForest pegs the sun's din on Earth at around 100 decibels, a bit quieter than the speakers at a rock concert. That's during the day, of course. At night, as we turn away from the sun, the roar would fade.
The Loudest Sound, Naturally
The loudest sound in recorded history came from the volcanic eruption on the Indonesian island Krakatoa at 10.02 a.m. on August 27, 1883. The explosion caused two thirds of the island to collapse and formed tsunami waves as high as 46 m (151 ft) rocking ships as far away as South Africa.
A study of noise on Airbus A321 aircraft reported levels of 60-65 decibels (dBA) before takeoff; 80-85 dBA during flight; and 75-80 dBA during landing. The outside of aircraft engines (around 140 dB at takeoff) and conditions on other aircraft may have higher or lower noise levels.
The 1883 Krakatoa volcano eruption was the loudest sound recorded on Earth, but there are much louder sounds in space, even though we technically can't hear them.
The intermittent and piercing nature of a dog's bark can be very disruptive for close neighbours. A dog's bark can reach 90 decibels. You may not be aware that your dog is barking when you are not home. It's important to make sure your dog has enough toys and space so they can occupy themselves when you aren't home.