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If you were an intelligent sea creature who could not always rely on the sky to tell time (as is often the norm whilst out there), what would you use as a time reference if you wanted to measure time? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 4 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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You can consider this installment four of my previous question which is the third installment.

Throughout history, we have developed many methods of telling time. The most famous two examples being the clock and the sundial. The ancient Egyptians invented the clepsydra, an extremely simple device that uses dripping water as a way to tell how much time has passed. There are also, for example, hourglasses, which flow sand as a measurement of time.

Suppose, though, you were an intelligent dolphin and, for some reason, had to always have a time reference on you. Being under the water seems to present a challenge, for technology like clocks and hourglasses don't seem to be possible to make under the water, a clepsydra certainly wouldn't work since you can't pour water underwater, and a sundial wouldn't have the proper lighting. So you must improvise in order to find a way to keep track of time. How would you improvise in order to keep track of time.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Temperature of the water? Very inconsistent and tough to manage I'd guess

Or smth to do with tides and currents. (I have no idea how any of that works 😭)

Using the erosion of some rock that is consistent to mark time? That would be useful for months or years but probably too inaccurate to calculate seconds.

Rely on your good old Biological clock