It Often Howls More than It Chugs: Wind versus Ship Noise under Water in Australia’s Maritime Regions
Marine soundscapes consist of cumulative contributions by diverse sources of sound grouped into: physical (e.g., wind), biological (e.g., fish), and anthropogenic (e.g., shipping)—each with unique spatial, temporal, and frequency characteristics. In terms of anthropophony, shipping has been found to...
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doaj-61896162fb9246d0b6493f393a586bcc2021-04-27T23:05:19ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122021-04-01947247210.3390/jmse9050472It Often Howls More than It Chugs: Wind versus Ship Noise under Water in Australia’s Maritime RegionsChristine Erbe0Renee P. Schoeman1David Peel2Joshua N. Smith3Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, AustraliaCentre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, AustraliaData 61, CSIRO, CSIRO Marine Laboratories, Hobart, TAS 7004, AustraliaCentre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, AustraliaMarine soundscapes consist of cumulative contributions by diverse sources of sound grouped into: physical (e.g., wind), biological (e.g., fish), and anthropogenic (e.g., shipping)—each with unique spatial, temporal, and frequency characteristics. In terms of anthropophony, shipping has been found to be the greatest (ubiquitous and continuous) contributor of low-frequency underwater noise in several northern hemisphere soundscapes. Our aim was to develop a model for ship noise in Australian waters, which could be used by industry and government to manage marine zones, their usage, stressors, and potential impacts. We also modelled wind noise under water to provide context to the contribution of ship noise. The models were validated with underwater recordings from 25 sites. As expected, there was good congruence when shipping or wind were the dominant sources. However, there was less agreement when other anthropogenic or biological sources were present (i.e., primarily marine seismic surveying and whales). Off Australia, pristine marine soundscapes (based on the dominance of natural, biological and physical sound) remain, in particular, near offshore reefs and islands. Strong wind noise dominates along the southern Australian coast. Underwater shipping noise dominates only in certain areas, along the eastern seaboard and on the northwest shelf, close to shipping lanes.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/5/472marine soundscapeship noisewind noisewhale songfish chorusAustralian EEZ |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Christine Erbe Renee P. Schoeman David Peel Joshua N. Smith |
spellingShingle |
Christine Erbe Renee P. Schoeman David Peel Joshua N. Smith It Often Howls More than It Chugs: Wind versus Ship Noise under Water in Australia’s Maritime Regions Journal of Marine Science and Engineering marine soundscape ship noise wind noise whale song fish chorus Australian EEZ |
author_facet |
Christine Erbe Renee P. Schoeman David Peel Joshua N. Smith |
author_sort |
Christine Erbe |
title |
It Often Howls More than It Chugs: Wind versus Ship Noise under Water in Australia’s Maritime Regions |
title_short |
It Often Howls More than It Chugs: Wind versus Ship Noise under Water in Australia’s Maritime Regions |
title_full |
It Often Howls More than It Chugs: Wind versus Ship Noise under Water in Australia’s Maritime Regions |
title_fullStr |
It Often Howls More than It Chugs: Wind versus Ship Noise under Water in Australia’s Maritime Regions |
title_full_unstemmed |
It Often Howls More than It Chugs: Wind versus Ship Noise under Water in Australia’s Maritime Regions |
title_sort |
it often howls more than it chugs: wind versus ship noise under water in australia’s maritime regions |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
issn |
2077-1312 |
publishDate |
2021-04-01 |
description |
Marine soundscapes consist of cumulative contributions by diverse sources of sound grouped into: physical (e.g., wind), biological (e.g., fish), and anthropogenic (e.g., shipping)—each with unique spatial, temporal, and frequency characteristics. In terms of anthropophony, shipping has been found to be the greatest (ubiquitous and continuous) contributor of low-frequency underwater noise in several northern hemisphere soundscapes. Our aim was to develop a model for ship noise in Australian waters, which could be used by industry and government to manage marine zones, their usage, stressors, and potential impacts. We also modelled wind noise under water to provide context to the contribution of ship noise. The models were validated with underwater recordings from 25 sites. As expected, there was good congruence when shipping or wind were the dominant sources. However, there was less agreement when other anthropogenic or biological sources were present (i.e., primarily marine seismic surveying and whales). Off Australia, pristine marine soundscapes (based on the dominance of natural, biological and physical sound) remain, in particular, near offshore reefs and islands. Strong wind noise dominates along the southern Australian coast. Underwater shipping noise dominates only in certain areas, along the eastern seaboard and on the northwest shelf, close to shipping lanes. |
topic |
marine soundscape ship noise wind noise whale song fish chorus Australian EEZ |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/5/472 |
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