Underwater operational noise level emitted by a tidal current turbine and its potential impact on marine fauna

Lossent, Julie; Lejart, Morgane; Folégot, Thomas; Clorennec, Dominique; Iorio, Lucia Di; Gervaise, Cédric

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.03.024

Cited by 31 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…In all species-turbine scenarios investigated, we found greater masking effects in winter (corresponding to lower ambient noise), which overall had a greater effect on the LSR for the harbour porpoise than for the harbour seal. Previous studies have quantified noise emissions from MRE devices to better understand the potential environmental impacts that turbine noise may have on sensitive marine life (see [8], [11], [28]). However, studies aimed at providing ecological context to empirical turbine measurements are rare.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The acoustic frequencies that may be generated throughout the various stages of the installation and operation of tidal turbine devices range between 200 and 8200 Hz (e.g. [8] [9] [10] [11]) [12]). High-energy noises will, for instance, be emitted during the installation and decommissioning of the device(s) (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To date, most empirical research on wave and tidal energy device noise has been limited to the level and propagation (or footprint) of noise from a single device (e.g. [8], [11], [28]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Providing ecological context to anthropogenic subsea noise: Assessing listening space reductions of marine mammals from tidal energy devices

Pine

Schmitt

Culloch

et al. 2019

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

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The deployment of tidal energy arrays is gaining momentum to provide marine renewable energy (MRE) to the global market. However, there are concerns over the potential impacts underwater noise emissions from operational devices may have on marine fauna. Auditory masking (the interference of important biological signals by anthropogenic noise) is a highly pervasive impact to marine fauna. We used a relatively new approach to evaluate the effects of noise from operational tidal energy devices on the listening space of marine mammals. Here, listening space reductions (LSR) for harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) were assessed in winter and summer for two tidal energy devices of different designs. Results demonstrated that LSR was influenced by type of turbine, species, and season. For instance, LSRs for harbour seals were in excess of 80 % within 60 m, whilst for harbour porpoise they were in excess of 55 % within 10 m of the devices, respectively. For both species, LSRs were highest during winter, characterised by low ambient noise conditions. These findings highlight the importance of assessing masking over seasons, as masking effects are highly influenced by ambient noise conditions. Understanding the natural variation within seasons is also particularly relevant for tidal turbine noise assessments as devices are typically situated in highly dynamic environments. Since masking effects occur at the lower level of behavioural impacts in marine mammals, assessing the spatial extent of masking as part of environmental impact assessments is recommended. The listening space formula, which is largely based on measurable environmental factors (device and ambient noise), is transferable to any MRE device, or arrays, for any species (for which an audiogram can be assumed) and therefore provides an effective method to better inform the MRE pre-and post-consenting processes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Providing ecological context to anthropogenic subsea noise: Assessing listening space reductions of marine mammals from tidal energy devices

Pine

Schmitt

Culloch

et al. 2019

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

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“…MRE devices may not be detectable above ambient noise levels and other anthropogenic sources in the vicinity of an MRE deployment, as measurements at several of the MRE project sites demonstrate, including the Columbia Power WEC [46], the Schottel Strangford Lough turbine [47], and perhaps the Wello WEC [48]. Although some behavioral responses occur as marine animals swim near devices, there is little evidence that effects of underwater noise from a single device create a substantial disturbance or cause injury to marine animals, such as those at the WaveRoller site [49], the Paimpol Brehat OpenHydro site [50], and the Minesto Strangford Lough site [51]. The relatively short timeframes over which marine animals have been observed to swim near devices supports the lack of disturbance by MRE device noise outputs; however, effects of long-term exposure to lower amplitudes of sound are not accounted for.…”

Section: Underwater Noisementioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Retirement—Decreasing Uncertainty and Informing Consenting Processes for Marine Renewable Energy Development

Copping

Freeman

Gorton

et al. 2020

JMSE

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Marine renewable energy (MRE) is under development in many coastal nations, adding to the portfolio of low carbon energy sources that power national electricity grids as well as off-grid uses in isolated areas and at sea. Progress in establishing the MRE industry, largely wave and tidal energy, has been slowed in part due to uncertainty about environmental risks of these devices, including harm to marine animals and habitats, and the associated concerns of regulators and stakeholders. A process for risk retirement was developed to organize and apply knowledge in a strategic manner that considered whether specific environmental effects are likely to cause harm. The risk retirement process was tested against two key MRE stressors: effects of underwater noise from operational MRE devices on marine animals, and effects of electromagnetic fields from MRE electrical export cables on marine animals. The effects of installation of MRE devices were not accounted for in this analysis. Applying the risk retirement process could decrease the need for costly investigations of each potential effect at every new MRE project site and help move the industry beyond current barriers.

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“…As a kind of pollution, noise is harmful to both the health of organisms in nature and the normal operation of the marine structures. The noise problems of ocean engineering structures with airfoils is currently a great concern [1][2][3][4][5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction of Hydrodynamic Noise of 3D Hydrofoil with Spanwise Microgrooved Surfaces Inspired by Sharkskin

Dang

Mao

Tian

2019

JMSE

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Loud hydrodynamic noise is not only potentially harmful to the health of organisms in the ocean, but it is also a threat to the survival of underwater vehicles. Different from the general noise reduction technologies at present, a new idea for a flow-induced noise reduction design with spanwise microgrooved surfaces inspired by sharkskin is introduced in this paper. Large eddy simulations (LES) combined with the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equation are adopted to simulate the hydrodynamic noise of the three-dimensional (3D) hydrofoil. The accuracy of the numerical predictions is checked against existing experimental data, achieving good agreement. With the increase of observing distance, the noise reduction effect at the trailing edge direction is gradually apparent, and a maximum noise reduction of up to 7.28 dB can be observed. It is seen from the noise spectra of the biomimetic hydrofoil that the main peaks are eliminated, and the noise level at high frequency is also decreased. The cause of noise reduction lies in the secondary vortex generated in the microgrooves, which hinder the process of turbulence, consume the energy of the flow, and weaken the intensity of turbulent burst. The results of this study provide a new way to design low-noise underwater structures with hydrofoils.

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Underwater operational noise level emitted by a tidal current turbine and its potential impact on marine fauna

Cited by 31 publications

References 49 publications

Providing ecological context to anthropogenic subsea noise: Assessing listening space reductions of marine mammals from tidal energy devices

Providing ecological context to anthropogenic subsea noise: Assessing listening space reductions of marine mammals from tidal energy devices

Risk Retirement—Decreasing Uncertainty and Informing Consenting Processes for Marine Renewable Energy Development

Reduction of Hydrodynamic Noise of 3D Hydrofoil with Spanwise Microgrooved Surfaces Inspired by Sharkskin

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