THE sight of a 60 foot whale washed up on the Newport coastline attracted thousands of visitors eager to catch a glimpse of what will be for many a once in a lifetime opportunity.

But the freakish sight of a huge whale carcass washed up in the Severn Estuary was the first in an unprecedented chain of events around the Welsh coast that has left marine experts baffled.

In the days that followed two rare Sowerby whales were washed up along the South Wales coast - one stranded and successfully returned to the sea in Llangranog and Monday and another discovered dead in Pembrokeshire - the first time in a century three whales had been beached in the UK in such close succession.

That was followed by reports of thousands of jellyfish being washed up along the coast and marine life experts in Milford Haven revealed scores of seal pups being washed up on beaches. Experts are now divided as they try to establish what caused the whale beachings and the other unusual marine activity over the past month.

Douglas Herdson, information officer at the National Aquarium, Plymouth, said noise pollution is to blame.

"The constant increase in noise disruption makes it difficult for whales to find their way through the sea," he said.

"They can't register the strange noises. There has been evidence from different parts of the world where the whales have been killed as a result of the military using sonar exercises.

"The low frequency of the sonar damages their internal organs which can kill or injure them."

Mr Herdson said he did not believe climate change was linked to the increase in the washed-up mammals.

" I would be surprised if the climate change has anything to do with it as it would provide more food which would encourage whales, but man's use of the sea has made it a noisy place for the whales."

A spokeswoman from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society said: "There is some evidence to suggest that noise pollution caused by military sonars has caused whales to get stranded, this could be linked to the cases in South Wales but we don't have evidence of that."

She added: "Noise pollution is an important and urgent threat to whales and dolphins."

But a spate of unusual marine life activity around the coast of the UK has prompted speculation that recent storms across the Atlantic, which are being cited as strong evidence of climate change, could be behind the freak occurrences.

In September Hurricane Jeanne and Ivan wreaked devastation in the Carribbean with 100mph winds and torrential rain.

Scientists claim the storm's unprecedented ferocity and frequency was due to the unexpectedly warm water that has been building up in the Atlantic over the past year.

Experts say the tail end of the storms has caused exceptionally stormy seas which may have a considerable effect on travelling marine life.

Len Batemen a skipper for Dive Pembrokeshire UK said this week: "It's difficult to say how these things happen, but it could well have something to do with the stronger winds and stormy weather we have experienced in the aftermath of the hurricanes.

"It would have an effect on any travelling marine life which may get swept up in tides and currents."

And climate change has been high on the Welsh political agenda this week.

Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle held a meeting organised by Friends of the Earth with Sir John Houghton, a former head of the UK Meteorological Office and Vice President of the World Meteorological Organisation.

Gordon James, Assembly Campaigner with Friends of the Earth Cymru said: "Evidence from around the world is showing that gases, such as carbon dioxide, emitted mainly by burning fossil fuels and forest destruction are causing the weather to become more extreme with more incidents of intense rainfall and flooding, stronger winds and storms, higher temperatures and droughts. This is having a big impact already on people, the environment and the economy."

Douglas Herdson said that cutting down on energy would improve the environment and said it should start now.

He said: "In the short term not much can be done about global warming but there is a lot mankind can do to help nature in the future by cutting down on energy and being more efficient."

Lynne Neagle AM said: "The Assembly has a responsibility to act on this issue, making sure we in Wales do all we can to reduce carbon emissions. Climate change isn't just an issue our children study in school. Unless we take action now, it will be reality they have to live with as adults."

The Newport whale was believed to have been ill for some time before it was discovered at St Brides.

Despite a groundswell of opinion that its bones should be preserved and displayed, the mammal was cut up and incinerated on "public health grounds" after thousands of people flocked to see it over three days last week.