Behavioral responses of gray whales to industrial noise: feeding observations and predictive modeling

Technical Report · Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6880170

Malme, C I; Wuersig, B; Bird, J E; Tyack, P

An investigation was made of the potential effects of underwater noise from petroleum-industry activities on feeding gray whales. The investigation consisted of two components, a field study and an acoustic model study. The field study was performed near Southeast Cape, St. Lawrence Island in August, 1985, using a 100 cu. in. air gun source and playback of drillship noise. Sound-source levels and acoustic-propagation losses were measured to permit estimation of sound exposure levels at whale-sighting positions. For the air-gun source there was a 0.5 probability that the whales would stop feeding and move away from the area when the average pulse levels reached 173 dB.

• Research Organization: BBN Labs., Inc., Cambridge, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6880170
• Report Number(s): PB-88-249057/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
02 PETROLEUM
ALASKA
CONTINENTAL SHELF
CETACEANS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
OFFSHORE DRILLING
NOISE POLLUTION
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
RESPIRATION
SENSITIVITY
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
DRILLING
FEDERAL REGION X
INDUSTRY
MAMMALS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
USA
VERTEBRATES
520100* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)
020900 - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
020200 - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration