Submit to JMSE Review for JMSE Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Environmental Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 June 2023) | Viewed by 22895

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Claudio Testa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Institute of Marine Engineering (INM), 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: numerical modeling; fluid–structure interaction; acoustics; wind energy; noise control; boundary element method; aero/hydro-acoustics; aero/hydro-dynamics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Aristides Prospathopoulos

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece
Interests: underwater acoustic propagation modelling; study of underwater soundscape; impulsive and continuous underwater noise sources; underwater noise assessment; passive acoustic monitoring

Dr. Luca Greco

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Institute of Marine Engineering (INM), 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: numerical modelling; fluid-structure interaction; wind energy; boundary element method; aero/hydro-dynamics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Anthropogenic noise is one of the main marine pollution factors that negatively affect marine life (mammals, fish, invertebrates, reptiles, marine birds etc.). An ever-increasing number of relevant studies support the fact that noise from various anthropogenic sources such as vessels, active sonars, energy and construction infrastructure, seismic surveys, as well as synthetic sounds (artificial tones and white noise) compromise hearing ability and induce physiological and behavioural changes in marine animals. Since these stressors for marine animals cannot be eliminated, it is crucial to assess monitoring, prediction and regulation/management methodologies in order to maintain a healthy ocean. Noise monitoring involves the coupling between numerical modelling and measurements to tackle the problem in an efficient manner. Measurements are necessary but are site-specific and can be generalised to larger areas only in special cases, whereas models have to be validated with measurements for reliable practical applications. The latter is particularly important in terms of near-field predicted sound to avoid the increase of errors in the acoustic propagation models.

In view of the above considerations, this Special Issue encourages the submission of papers dealing with methodologies for assessing the pressure of anthropogenic noise in the marine environment, addressing numerical and/or experimental studies on underwater noise generation/ propagation, and including both impulsive (airguns, sonars, impact pile driving, explosions, etc.) and continuous (ship propellers and hulls, vibro-piling, drilling, MRE installations, offshore structures, etc.) sound sources. The proposed numerical/experimental approaches may focus on proposed methodologies for assessing the noise pressure from different sources in the marine environment; modelling (numerical, analytical, semi-empirical, empirical), measurements or both (the latter are particularly encouraged); source and/or receiver perspective; small or large spatial scales; and single or multiple sources.

Dr. Claudio Testa
Dr. Aristides Prospathopoulos
Dr. Luca Greco
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

underwater anthropogenic noise
spatio-temporal assessment
underwater radiated noise levels
underwater noise modelling and measurement
underwater noise generation
impulsive noise sources
continuous noise sources
ship propeller hydroacoustics
shipping noise modelling

Published Papers (13 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Other

17 pages, 3903 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Behavioural Responses to Ultrasound Antifouling Systems by Adult Solitary Ascidians

by Roberta Varello, Davide Asnicar, Jacopo Boaga and Francesca Cima

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(6), 1115; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11061115 - 24 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1464 | Correction

Abstract

Ultrasonic antifouling devices are installed globally on a variety of vessel types and are marketed as an environmentally friendly method for biofouling control. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of ultrasound on adults of three species of common solitary ascidians (Ciona intestinalis, Ascidiella aspersa and Styela plicata). After a brief (10 s) exposure to two ultrasound frequencies (30 and 35 kHz), alterations in the frequency of siphon closing events and the length of time the siphons remained closed/open were observed. The results revealed that ascidians are able to perceive ultrasound, showing frequency-dependent behavioural responses that vary depending on the species and size of individuals involving both tactile receptors and an acoustic system homologous to the vertebrate inner ear. Continuous (5 h) 30 kHz exposure caused other types of responses, the most interesting of which was the long-term opening of the oral siphon, indicating a lack of reactivity to mechanical stimuli. This effect suggests a stress condition that could lead to increased vulnerability to predators and filter-feeding impairment. Therefore, knowledge of the acoustic sensitivity of sessile marine species appears to be essential for better understanding the potential effects of noise pollution on marine ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 11214 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Case Study-Based Analysis of Uncertainties on the Assessment of Impulsive Underwater Noise for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

by Carina Juretzek, Andreas Müller, Ramona Eigenmann, Junio Fabrizio Borsani and Peter Sigray

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(4), 847; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11040847 - 17 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1457

Abstract

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) has been an important driver for progress in monitoring and assessment of impulsive underwater noise in the marine environment of the European Union. An important achievement of the MSFD implementation was the development of regional noise registries, providing the data basis for assessments. Recently, the EU has made tremendous efforts to propose harmonized assessment approaches and first-of-their-kind regional quantitative thresholds for impulsive underwater noise. In light of these newly developed thresholds values, we analyze the suitability of the available data in the noise registries for assessment purposes under the MSFD and review sources of uncertainties regarding quantitative results. We present three regional case studies located in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. For each of these regions, a sound-intensive activity was selected that aligned with a realistic impulsive noise event reported for the region. We made use of available data in the noise registries and applied the EU Guidance recommended for the description of impulsive noise sources, but also used alternative approaches and observations as comparison. The case study analysis includes the evaluation of data availability, data quality and data accuracy in the noise registries, and identifies corresponding consequences of the data for the uncertainty and interpretability of assessment results, especially for the quantitative evaluation of habitat areas impacted by noise. Finally, we make suggestions for the improvement of the data basis in the noise registries and the optimization of the assessment accuracy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 5079 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acoustical Behavior of Delphinid Whistles in the Presence of an Underwater Explosion Event in the Mediterranean Coastal Waters of Spain

by Guillermo Lara, Manuel Bou-Cabo, Susana Llorens, Ramón Miralles and Víctor Espinosa

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(4), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11040780 - 04 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1343

Abstract

Underwater noise is a significant pollutant produced by anthropogenic activities carried out in the sea. Several types of acoustic sources can potentially have adverse impacts on marine fauna, especially on cetaceans. The vocalization response of cetaceans to underwater noise varies depending on noise characteristics such as duration, bandwidth, and intensity, as well as the species being insonified. Some studies report changes in vocalization properties due to continuous noise, but there is a lack of knowledge regarding impulsive noise sources, especially those related to explosive events. It is known that underwater explosions represent a serious threat to marine fauna because it produces one of the highest sound pressure levels introduced by anthropogenic activities. In this communication, an opportunistic study related to changes in the dolphin vocalizations was performed by considering two scenarios (i.e., before and after a detonation event). The acoustic raw data were recorded by a passive acoustic device installed in a mooring line deployed in the Mediterranean coast of Spain. The objective of the experimental installation was to monitor the underwater sound pressure level in the framework of the development of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in Spain. A detonation event of unknown origin was recorded during the monitoring period while Delphinids were vocalizing, allowing for the observation of their acoustic reaction to the explosion. The study considers the number of vocalizations, morphology of whistles, and spectral characteristics before and after the explosion. The results obtained indicate that the number of whistles, their complexity in terms of morphology, and spectral components vary due to the explosive event, showing significant differences that will be presented and discussed in this communication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 10315 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Prediction of Shipping Noise in Range-Dependent Environments

by Emmanuel K. Skarsoulis, George Piperakis, Aristides Prospathopoulos and Dimitris Makropoulos

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(2), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11020290 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1501 | Correction

Abstract

A prediction model for shipping noise in range-dependent environments based on coupled-mode theory is presented, as an enhancement to existing adiabatic normal-mode approaches without a significant increase in computational effort. Emphasis is placed on the categorization of environmental changes and precalculation and storage of eigenvalues, eigenfunctions and coupling matrices, such that they can be looked up and restored to efficiently compute the acoustic field of arbitrary noise source distributions over a given sea area. Taking into account that the water depth is the primary factor determining the number of propagating modes for a particular frequency, coupling is applied only in the case of changing bathymetry, whereas changes in the water sound-speed profile and/or the geoacoustic characteristics are treated adiabatically. Examples of noise calculations are given for benchmark setups in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and comparisons with fully adiabatic predictions are drawn. Moreover, the effect of applying range propagation limitations in a numerical propagation model for shipping noise predictions is demonstrated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Large-Scale Simulation of a Shipping Speed Limitation Measure in the Western Mediterranean Sea: Effects on Underwater Noise

by Myriam Lajaunie, Benjamin Ollivier, Laura Ceyrac, David Dellong and Florent Le Courtois

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(2), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11020251 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2984

Abstract

Underwater noise from shipping activity can impact marine ecosystems in the long term and at large scale. Speed limitation has been considered to reduce noise emission levels. In this article, the effects of speed limitation on shipping noise levels are investigated at high spatial resolution (5 arc-min) in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Scenarios of maximum speed limits of 10 kt and 15 kn are computed. The impact of a speed reduction is time-dependent and tends to redistribute sources of noise temporally, smoothing the contrasts existing in marine traffic at the daily scale. The effectiveness of the measure is evaluated over short successive time windows (6 h), allowing for capture of the dynamic of the effect of speed reduction. Several metrics are proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of speed reduction as a mitigation measure according to its temporal stability. This study illustrates complex phenomena related to (1) the increased vessel density in the speed limitation area due to longer navigation time and (2) deep-water and shallow-water propagations. The bathymetry and the local distribution of traffic are two elements of importance with respect to the effectiveness and the stability of the measure, whereas the traffic properties seem to impact the stability of the effect in particular, and deep waters seem to increase the effectiveness. This research shows the areas in which the proposed measure would be the most effective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On the Influence of Cavitation Volume Variations on Propeller Broadband Noise

by Leonie S. Föhring, Peter Møller Juhl and Dietrich Wittekind

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(12), 1946; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10121946 - 08 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1060

Abstract

Low-frequency broadband shipping noise causes a growing concern for marine fauna together with the demand for noise reduction. Detailed analyses of the cavitation behaviour in the time domain serve as a prerequisite for steps toward quieter propellers. Underwater noise measurement data from the propeller of a full-scale container vessel are used for the analysis of the cavitation volume behaviour. Sequencing methods, polynomial models, and stochastic evaluation methods feeding Monte Carlo simulations of unsteady sheet cavitation are applied to identify the cause of an often observed, yet unexplained similarity in shipping noise spectra. Characteristic features of the volume evolution are identified to enhance the understanding of noise generation by sheet cavitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Methodology for Shipping Noise Field Calibration and Excess Noise Estimation: The Azores Case Study

by Sérgio M. Jesus, Cristiano Soares, Miriam Romagosa, Irma Cascão, Ricardo Duarte, Friedrich Zabel and Mónica A. Silva

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(11), 1763; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10111763 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1102

Abstract

Economic globalization and the continuous search for food, energy and raw materials led to an estimated 3 dB/decade increase of ocean noise intensity. Determining the level of anthropogenic noise, the so-called excess noise, and building identifiable meaningful indicators for supporting marine management policies currently requires extensive observation data and computer modeling. For modeling purposes, in this study, anthropogenic noise was reduced to shipping traffic drawn from Automatic Identification System data, and environmental sound was attributed to surface wind only. Data-model comparison allowed introducing a methodology for simple model calibration and estimate excess noise. This methodology was tested on acoustic recordings performed in June 2018 at three locations to the southwest of Faial-Pico Islands in the Azores archipelago. The results show that field-calibrated excess noise sound maps are in line with the shipping distribution in the area, revealing a number of potentially marine life-threatening hotspots. Excess noise addresses the need for a quantifiable measure of ocean noise only and therefore offers a basis for building suitable continuous anthropogenic noise pollution indicators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 9401 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Impact of Recreational-Grade Echosounders and the Implications for Killer Whales

by Rianna Burnham, Svein Vagle, Peter Van Buren and Christie Morrison

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(9), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10091267 - 08 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2463

Abstract

The spatial extent of a dual-frequency echosounder and its potential impact on cetacean species were examined. Sound emissions of output frequencies of 83 kHz and 200 kHz were tested at a maximum distance of 400 m. This is the minimum vessel approach distance for killer whales (Orcinus orca) in southern British Columbia, which was introduced as a measure for limiting disturbance of southern resident killer whales (SRKWs). The experiment was conducted in shallow (34 m) and deep (220–235 m) water. Recordings were made at depths of 5 and 30 m for both locations, as well as at 100 and 200 m in the deeper water to examine the effect of the echosounder through the water column and at SRKW diving depths. The recordings showed that 200 kHz echosounder emissions were contained within a 250 m radius of the source, with most of the acoustic energy focused within 100 m in shallow waters. For the 83 kHz signal and for deeper water testing of the 200 kHz signal, the echosounder transmissions exceeded the 400 m threshold, intimating that whales could experience noise additions of 30 dB or more above the ambient level at the minimum vessel approach distance. Evaluating the noise additions to the ambient level from the echosounder in frequencies used by SRKWs for echolocation (15–100 kHz) further showed the potential impact on whales in close proximity to vessels (≤400 m) when using echosounders or fish-finders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 7575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel FDTD–PML Scheme for Noise Propagation Generated by Biomimetic Flapping Thrusters in the Ocean Environment

by Iro Malefaki and Kostas Belibassakis

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(9), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10091240 - 03 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1649

Abstract

Biomimetic flapping-foil thrusters can operate efficiently while offering desirable levels of thrust required for the propulsion of a small vessel or an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). These systems have been studied both as main propulsion devices and for augmenting ship propulsion in waves. In this work, the unsteady hydrofoil loads are used to calculate the source terms of the Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings (FW-H) equation which is applied to model noise propagation in the underwater ocean acoustic environment. The solution provided by a simplified version of the Farassat formulation in free space is extended to account for a bounded domain and an inhomogeneous medium, characterizing the sea acoustic waveguide. Assuming the simplicity azimuthal symmetry of the environmental parameters, a numerical model is developed based on a Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) scheme, incorporating free-surface and seabed effects, in the presence of a variable sound speed profile. For the treatment of the outgoing radiating field, a Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) technique is implemented. Numerical results are presented illustrating the applicability of the method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 13037 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Scattering and Directionality Effects of Noise Generation from Flapping Thrusters Used for Propulsion of Small Ocean Vehicles

by Kostas Belibassakis, John Prospathopoulos and Iro Malefaki

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(8), 1129; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10081129 - 17 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1324

Abstract

Flapping-foil thrusters are systems that operate at a substantially lower frequency compared with marine propellers and are characterized by a much smaller power concentration. These biomimetic devices are able to operate very efficiently, offering desirable levels of thrust required for the propulsion of small vessels or autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and can be used for the standalone propulsion of small vessels or for augmenting ship propulsion in waves, alleviating the generation of noise and its adverse effects on sea life, particularly on marine mammals. In this work, we consider the generation of noise by flapping foils arranged in the neighborhood of the above vessels including the scattering effects by the hull, which, in addition to free-surface and seabed effects, significantly contribute to the modification of the characteristics of the acoustic field. A Boundary Element Method (BEM) is developed to treat the 3D scattering problem in the frequency domain forced by monopole and dipole source terms associated with the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equation. Numerical results are presented in selected cases illustrating that the hull geometry and acoustic properties, as well as the sea surface and seabed effects, are important for the determination of the directionality of the generated noise and significantly affect the propagation in the underwater ocean environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 7511 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Underwater Chatter for the Win: A First Assessment of Underwater Soundscapes in Two Bays along the Eastern Cape Coast of South Africa

by Renée P. Schoeman, Christine Erbe and Stephanie Plön

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(6), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10060746 - 28 May 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3745

Abstract

In 2014, the South African government launched ‘Operation Phakisa’ under which port developments play a significant role in supporting ocean economic growth. These developments will likely increase vessel traffic to and from South African ports, making it imperative to monitor for changes in underwater sound budgets with potential negative effects on marine life. However, no soundscape studies have been conducted around South Africa, resulting in an absence of baseline measurements. This study provides a first description of the underwater soundscape in St. Francis Bay and Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape. Soundscape measurements identified major soundscape contributors, temporal patterns in broadband sound levels, and underlying environmental drivers. Applicability of modelled vessel noise and wind noise maps to predict large-scale spatial variation in sound budgets was assessed. Our study shows that sounds from biological sources and wind dominated at all recording sites, with fish choruses driving temporal patterns as a function of time of year and position of the sun. Sound from vessels was present at all sites but most notable in long-term spectral levels measured in Algoa Bay. Sound propagation models predicted a further increase in the contribution of vessel noise towards shipping lanes and east Algoa Bay. Our study provides a building block to monitor for shifts in sound budgets and temporal patterns in these two bays under a developing ocean economy. Furthermore, our study raises concerns that vessel noise is likely a significant contributor in shallow waters elsewhere along the South African coast where vessel density is known to be higher (i.e., Durban and Cape Town). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessing the Pressure of Underwater Anthropogenic Noise from Impulsive and Continuous Sound Sources)

► Show Figures