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Title: Sources and levels of ambient ocean sound near the antarctic peninsula

Journal Article · · PLoS ONE
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [4];  [4];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [5]
  1. Oregon State Univ./Cooperative Inst. for Marine Resources Studies/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/Pacific Marine Environmental Lab., Newport, OR (United States)
  2. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States). Dept. of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences.
  3. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States). Applied Physics Lab.
  4. Korea Polar Research Inst., Incheon (Korea, Republic of). Polar Environmental Research Div.
  5. Virginia Commonwealth Univ., Richmond, VA (United States)
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Arrays of hydrophones were deployed within the Bransfield Strait and Scotia Sea (Antarctic Peninsula region) from 2005 to 2009 to record ambient ocean sound at frequencies of up to 125 and 500 Hz. Icequakes, which are broadband, short duration signals derived from fracturing of large free-floating icebergs, are a prominent feature of the ocean soundscape. Icequake activity peaks during austral summer and is minimum during winter, likely following freeze-thaw cycles. Iceberg grounding and rapid disintegration also releases significant acoustic energy, equivalent to large-scale geophysical events. Overall ambient sound levels can be as much as ~10–20 dB higher in the open, deep ocean of the Scotia Sea compared to the relatively shallow Bransfield Strait. Noise levels become lowest during the austral winter, as sea-ice cover suppresses wind and wave noise. Ambient noise levels are highest during austral spring and summer, as surface noise, ice cracking and biological activity intensifies. Vocalizations of blue (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin (B. physalus) whales also dominate the long-term spectra records in the 15–28 and 89 Hz bands. Blue whale call energy is a maximum during austral summer-fall in the Drake Passage and Bransfield Strait when ambient noise levels are a maximum and sea-ice cover is a minimum. Fin whale vocalizations were also most common during austral summer-early fall months in both the Bransfield Strait and Scotia Sea. The hydrophone data overall do not show sustained anthropogenic sources (ships and airguns), likely due to low coastal traffic and the typically rough weather and sea conditions of the Southern Ocean.

Research Organization:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Newport, OR (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Contributing Organization:
NOAA Ocean Exploration and Research Program; Korea Ocean and Polar Research Institute
Grant/Contract Number:
AI52-08NA28654
OSTI ID:
1184780
Journal Information:
PLoS ONE, Vol. 10, Issue 4; ISSN 1932-6203
Publisher:
Public Library of ScienceCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 19 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (4)

Seasonal and spatial variations in the ocean-coupled ambient wavefield of the Ross Ice Shelf journal September 2019
Long-Term and Seasonal Changes of Large Whale Call Frequency in the Southern Indian Ocean journal November 2018
A study on the ambient noise field at a hydroacoustic array near Robinson Crusoe Island journal March 2019
The influence of sea ice, wind speed and marine mammals on Southern Ocean ambient sound journal January 2017

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