Bowhead whale behavior in relation to seismic exploration, Alaskan Beaufort Sea, Autumn 1981. Study report (Final)

Technical Report · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:6552098

Fraker, M A; Ljungblad, D K; Richardson, W J; Van Schoik, D R

Behavior of bowhead whales (Balsena mysticetus) in the eastern part of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea or near the Alaska/Yukon border was observed from a circling turbine-powered Goose aircraft on 10 dates from 12 September to 5 October 1981. On three of these dates, the whales were exposed t, noise impulses from seismic vessels 13 km or more away. Some behavioral data were acquired. In both the presence and the absence of seismic impulses, most bowheads appeared to be feeding in the water column, although slow travel and active socializing were sometimes detected. Sonobuoys detected bowhead calls both in the presence and the absence of seismic impulses. There was no clear evidence of unusual behavior in the presence of seismic impulses.

• Research Organization: LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc., Bryan, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6552098
• Report Number(s): PB-87-157442/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARCTIC OCEAN
BASELINE ECOLOGY
BEAUFORT SEA
CETACEANS
ECOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EXPLORATION
MAMMALS
NOISE POLLUTION
POLLUTION
SEAS
SEISMIC WAVES
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES