Ocean Basin Impact of Ambient Noise on Marine Mammal Detectability, Distribution, and Acoustic Communication

Abstract

The ultimate goal of this research was to enhance the understanding of global ocean noise and how variability in sound level impacts marine mammal acoustic communication and signal detection. How short term variability and long term changes of ocean basin acoustics impact signal detection was considered by examining 1) the variability in low frequency ocean sound levels and sources, and 2) the relationship of sound variability on signal detection as it relates to marine mammal active acoustic space and acoustic communication. This work increases the spatial range and time scale of prior studies conducted at a local or regional scale. The comparison of acoustic time series from different ocean basins provides a synoptic perspective for observing and monitoring ocean noise on multiple times scales in both hemispheres as economic and climate conditions change. Quantified changes in the acoustic environment were then applied to the investigation of ocean noise issues related to general signal detection tasks, as well as marine mammal acoustic detection and impacts.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 2015
Accession Number
AD1014266

Entities

People

  • Jennifer Miksis-Olds

Organizations

  • Pennsylvania State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Communications
  • Acoustic Detection
  • Acoustics
  • Ambient Noise
  • Ascension Island
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Data Sets
  • Detection
  • Diego Garcia
  • Frequency
  • Indian Ocean
  • Marine Mammals
  • Ocean Basins
  • Predictive Modeling
  • Signal Detection
  • Underwater Acoustics
  • Whales

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers

Technology Areas

  • Space