Low frequency deep ocean ambient noise trend in the Northeast Pacific Ocean

Chapman, N. Ross; Price, Andrea

doi:10.1121/1.3567084

Cited by 137 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Measurements from the North Atlantic show that average noise at 50 Hz has increased about 5.5 dB per decade from 1950 to 1970 (Ross, 2005) and about 2.8 dB from 1966 to 2013 (Širović et al, 2016). A similar trend has been found in the North Pacific with noise increasing at an average rate of 2.5-3 dB per decade at 30-50 Hz since the 1960s (Andrew et al, 2002;McDonald et al, 2006;Chapman and Price, 2011). This rise has been mainly due to shipping and together with seismic surveys has become one the principal sources of ambient noise below ∼1 kHz.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Underwater Ambient Noise in a Baleen Whale Migratory Habitat Off the Azores

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Assessment of underwater noise is of particular interest given the increase in noise-generating human activities and the potential negative effects on marine mammals which depend on sound for many vital processes. The Azores archipelago is an important migratory and feeding habitat for blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and sei whales (Balaenoptera borealis) en route to summering grounds in northern Atlantic waters. High levels of low frequency noise in this area could displace whales or interfere with foraging behavior, impacting energy intake during a critical stage of their annual cycle. In this study, bottom-mounted Ecological Acoustic Recorders were deployed at three Azorean seamounts (Condor, Açores, and Gigante) to measure temporal variations in background noise levels and ship noise in the 18-1,000 Hz frequency band, used by baleen whales to emit and receive sounds. Monthly average noise levels ranged from 90.3 dB re 1 µPa (Açores seamount) to 103.1 dB re 1 µPa (Condor seamount) and local ship noise was present up to 13% of the recording time in Condor. At this location, average contribution of local boat noise to background noise levels is almost 10 dB higher than wind contribution, which might temporally affect detection ranges for baleen whale calls and difficult communication at long ranges. Given the low time percentatge with noise levels above 120 dB re 1 µPa found here (3.3% at Condor), we woud expect limited behavioral responses to ships from baleen whales. Sound pressure levels measured in the Azores are lower than those reported for the Mediterranean basin and the Strait of Gibraltar. However, the currently unknown effects of baleen whale vocalization masking and the increasing presence of boats at the monitored sites underline the need for continuous monitoring to understand any long-term impacts on whales.

show abstract

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Underwater Ambient Noise in a Baleen Whale Migratory Habitat Off the Azores

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Much of the documented increase in ocean noise levels has been attributed to commercial shipping activities (Andrew et al, 2002;Chapman and Price, 2011;McDonald et al, 2006) and has primarily been quantified for open-ocean environments. However, small boats can act as transient, high-amplitude noise sources (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ambient noise and temporal patterns of boat activity in the US Virgin Islands National Park

Kaplan

Mooney

2015

Marine Pollution Bulletin

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Human activity is contributing increasing noise to marine ecosystems. Recent studies have examined the effects of boat noise on marine fishes, but there is limited understanding of the prevalence of this sound source. This investigation tracks vessel noise on three reefs in the US Virgin Islands National Park over four months in 2013. Ambient noise levels ranged from 106-129 dB rms re 1 µPa (100 Hz -20 kHz). Boat noise occurred in 6-12% of samples. In the presence of boat noise, ambient noise in a low-frequency band (100-1000 Hz) increased by >7 dB above baseline levels and sound levels were significantly higher. The frequency with the most acoustic energy shifted to a significantly lower frequency when boat noise was present during the day.These results indicate the prevalence of boat noise and its overlap with reef organism sound production, raising concern for the communication abilities of these animals.

show abstract

“…Archived acoustic recordings of the northern Pacific Ocean indicate an increase in ambient noise of 10-12 dB in the 25-50 Hz frequency range since the 1960s [e.g., Frisk, 2012;Hildebrand, 2009;Chapman and Price, 2011;Andrew et al, 2011;McDonald et al, 2006] . The potential impacts of increased ocean noise on marine animals' reproduction [Lillis et al, 2013], feeding [Simpson, 2005], communication [Edds-Walton, 1997], and physiology [Rolland et al, 2012] have raised concerns about ecosystem health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antarctic icebergs: A significant natural ocean sound source in the Southern Hemisphere

Matsumoto

Bohnenstiehl

Tournadre

et al. 2014

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In late 2007, two massive icebergs, C19a and B15a, drifted into open water and slowly disintegrated in the southernmost Pacific Ocean. Archived acoustic records show that the high-intensity underwater sounds accompanying this breakup increased ocean noise levels at mid-to-equatorial latitudes over a period of 1.5 years. More typically, seasonal variations in ocean noise, which are characterized by austral summer-highs and winter-lows, appear to be modulated by the annual cycle of Antarctic iceberg drift and subsequent disintegration. This seasonal pattern is observed in all three Oceans of the Southern Hemisphere. The life cycle of Antarctic icebergs affects not only marine ecosystem but also the sound environment in far-reaching areas and must be accounted for in any effort to isolate anthropogenic or climateinduced noise contributions to the ocean soundscape.

show abstract

Low frequency deep ocean ambient noise trend in the Northeast Pacific Ocean

Cited by 137 publications

References 7 publications

Underwater Ambient Noise in a Baleen Whale Migratory Habitat Off the Azores

Underwater Ambient Noise in a Baleen Whale Migratory Habitat Off the Azores

Ambient noise and temporal patterns of boat activity in the US Virgin Islands National Park

Antarctic icebergs: A significant natural ocean sound source in the Southern Hemisphere

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About