Expanding Science from the Gulf of Maine Regional Acoustic Network
Abstract
Approved for Public ReleaseUnderwater acoustics challenges the traditional sense of temporal and spatial scales compared to terrestrial applications. The concept of spatial scale in ocean acoustics is complex and not as straightforward as expressing distance and/or environmental features within defined borders or provinces, as frequency is the dominant parameter defining detection area and spatial scale. Multiyear, temporal studies are also rare in oceanographic research, as operation and maintenance are extremely costly. The proposed work sustains currently deployed acoustic and ocean observation assets in the Gulf of Maine in enhance regional scale science over long temporal scales. Understanding the acoustic variability and spatio-temporal dynamics of ocean processes impacting signal detection and ocean sound propagation at scales larger than a specific locale and longer than 1-2 years necessitates sustained observations and measurements. With escalating interest in the Gulf of Maine due to climate change, energy development, aquaculture, commercial fishing, and transportation, there has been a regional increase in the number of both acoustic and ocean observation systems deployed over the past decade. A majority of deployments were short-term (less than a year) and supported the objectives of independent research projects and programs. With the past, present, and future deployments targeting a variety of project specific science and monitoring purposes, the opportunity to integrate data from different regional projects will enable larger, longer, time-series studies well beyond the spatial and temporal scopes of any individual project. The proposed work aims to assess patterns and trends in acoustic, oceanographic and air-sea interface dynamics through long time series analyses that will lead to transformative research related to 1) source detection/classification/ localization methods, 2) predicting habitat suitability of marine mammals through the development of Species Distribution Models, 3) understanding soundscape dynamics related to source energy densities, 4) exploring the feasibility of coupling active and passive acoustic data to study surface bubble dynamics, and 5) investigating the variability of bio-physical interactions by developing echosounder-based indices for multiple types of lower trophic level organisms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 09, 2024
- Source ID
- N000142412740
Entities
People
- Jennifer Miksis-Olds
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University System of New Hampshire