Sonar Validation Study with Migrating Gray Whales

Abstract

This project proposed to make visual tracks of migrating whales to validate performance of a whalefinding sonar developed by Scientific Solutions, measure target strength of gray whales and study responses of migrating gray whales to the whalefinding sonar by using a theodolite on shore to observe and track individual whales as they migrate past the ship that would operate a high frequency whalefinding sonar. Due to a legal challenge to the process used by NMFS in issuing the research permit, testing of the whalefinding sonar was prevented, and the field team collected baseline data on the whale migration. In consultation with the program manager, the rest of the research effort was devoted to developing new analysis techniques for increasing the statistical power of controlled exposure experiments. These techniques were developed with a separate data set involved controlled exposures of mid-frequency sonar signals to deep diving sperm whales.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 14, 2005
Accession Number
ADA441916

Entities

People

  • Peter Tyack

Organizations

  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cetaceans
  • Frequency
  • Governments
  • House Of Representatives
  • Law
  • Mammals
  • Marine Mammals
  • Migration
  • National Governments
  • Odontocetes
  • Sonar
  • Sonar Signals
  • Target Strength
  • Theodolites
  • Underwater Sound
  • United States Government
  • Validation

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Marine Ecological Systems Migration
  • Marine Mammal Biology