Observations on the behavior of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in the presence of operating seismic exploration vessels in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea

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

OSTI ID:6800083

Ljungblad, D K; Wuersig, B; Swartz, S L; Keene, J M

The response of bowhead whales to active geophysical vessels was observed during the course of 4 field experiments conducted in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, September 1984. Conspicuous short-term behavioral changes were observed when active vessels approached to within 10km of bowheads, with the strongest responses occurring when whales were within 5km of active vessels. Behavioral responses included shorter surfacing and dive times, fewer blows per surfacing, and longer blow intervals. Total avoidance responses occured at vessel distances of 1.25km, 7.2km, 3.5km and 3.5km with associated measured sound levels from the seismic airgun arrays of 152dB, 164dB, 178dB and 163dB, respectively.

• Research Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6800083
• Report Number(s): PB-87-129318/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACOUSTIC MONITORING
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARCTIC OCEAN
BEAUFORT SEA
BEHAVIOR
CETACEANS
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MAMMALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MONITORING
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
RESPIRATION
SEAS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SHIPS
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
VERTEBRATES