3S2: Behavioral Response Studies of Cetaceans to Navy Sonar Signals in Norwegian Waters
Abstract
A primary goal of this international cooperative research program is to investigate behavioral reactions of three species of whales: bottlenose whales, minke whales, and humpback whales elicited by exposures to quantified dosages of naval active sonar signals in the 1-10 kHz range. The results are interpreted to generate dose-response functions, in order to help establish safety limits for sonar operations for these species. Another primary goal of the program is to assess the effectiveness of ramp-up, a common mitigation protocol in which source levels are gradually increased prior to the onset of full-level transmissions. Ramp-up is designed to give nearby animals some time to move away before sonar transmissions reach maximum levels. However, it is unknown whether or not this protocol is actually effective for animals in their natural environment. We have developed and implemented an experimental design to test whether the ramp-up procedure is an effective protocol to reduce risk of harm from sonar activities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA617580
Entities
People
- Patrick Miller
- Peter Tyack
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution