Acoustic effects of the ATOC signal (75 Hz, 195 dB) on dolphins and whales

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
W W AuJ L Pawloski

Abstract

The Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) program of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, will broadcast a low-frequency 75-Hz phase modulated acoustic signal over ocean basins in order to study ocean temperatures on a global scale and examine the effects of global warming. One of the major concerns is the possible effect of the ATOC signal on marine life, especially on dolphins and whales. In order to address this issue, the hearing sensitivity of a false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) and a Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) to the ATOC sound was measured behaviorally. A staircase procedure with the signal levels being changed in 1-dB steps was used to measure the animals' threshold to the actual ATOC coded signal. The results indicate that small odontocetes such as the Pseudorca and Grampus swimming directly above the ATOC source will not hear the signal unless they dive to a depth of approximately 400 m. A sound propagation analysis suggests that the sound-pressure level at ranges greater than 0.5 km will be less than 130 dB for depths down to about 500 m. Several species of baleen whales produce sounds much greater than 170-180 dB. With the ATOC source...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 11, 2002·Marine Environmental Research·B Würsig, C R Greene
Oct 29, 2000·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·A S Frankel, C W Clark
Jun 10, 2008·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Arslan M TashmukhambetovJoal J Newcomb
Jul 7, 2007·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Genevieve Haviland-HowellLaela S Sayigh
Oct 3, 2015·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Liang FangDing Wang
Jul 24, 2013·Annual Review of Marine Science·William S D WilcockRobert I Odom
Apr 7, 2005·The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·Peter F Worcester, Robert C Spindel
Jan 21, 2017·Sensors·Gara Quintana-DíazJ Joaquín Hernández
Oct 20, 2006·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Michael E SmithArthur N Popper

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