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other federal agencies,
academia, and industry to
develop tools to map the
contribution of human
sound sources to underwa-
ter ocean noise levels and
the overlap with cetacean
density and distribution.
The specific objective of
SoundMap was to develop
mapping methods to de-
pict temporal, spatial, and
spectral characteristics
of resulting underwater
noise from both acute (i.e.,
relatively short-term con-
tributions to background
ocean noise levels, like
those from a discrete sonar
exercise) and chronic (i.e.,
more long-term contributions to background noise levels, like those from commercial shipping) sound sources. These tools used environmental descriptors and the distribution, density, and acoustic characteristics of human activities within US waters to develop first-order estimates of their contribution to ambient noise levels at multiple frequencies, depths and spatial/temporal scales (Figure 2).
In conjunction with the mapping methods developed by SoundMap, the CetMap Working Group compiled and cre- ated maps to characterize cetacean occurrence, distribution, and density as well as to identify biologically important ar- eas (BIAs; see Van Parijs et al., 2015a). BIAs are valuable be- cause there is growing evidence indicating that contextual factors (i.e., behavioral state: reproducing, feeding, and mi- grating) play a role in the type and extent of an individual’s response to sound beyond a simply received level (Ellison et al., 2012). Together, these tools are an important first step toward better characterization and management of cumula- tive noise impacts for cetaceans and can serve as a model for other marine species.
NOAA Ocean Noise Strategy
and NOAA Ocean Noise Reference Station Network
After the successes of the CetSound project, NOAA began the development of a multifaceted, forward-looking Ocean Noise Strategy (Strategy), with the goal of articulating the
Figure 3. Ten locations for the Ocean Noise Reference Station Network of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Map courtesy of Jeffrey Adams, NOAA.
agency’s vision for addressing the impacts of underwater noise over the next 10 years. NOAA Strategy brings together both the science and management sides of the agency to cre- ate a more integrated and comprehensive approach for deal- ing with ocean noise impacts on protected marine species and their habitats.
One of the first accomplishments associated with NOAA Strategy is the development of an Ocean Noise Reference Station Network (ONRSN). The ONRSN is a NOAA initia- tive to establish a network of listening stations within US waters to obtain potentially important data on long-term changes and trends in the underwater ambient environ- ment. Each listening station will consist of identical au- tonomous acoustic low-frequency (10-2,200 Hz) recording systems that will ensure proper calibration and consistency among the collected data sets and allow for more meaning- ful comparisons among different regions to assess biologi- cal and man-made contributions to the overall soundscape (Van Parijs et al., 2015b). The NOAA ONRSN is a collabora- tive effort between the NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Research-Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, all NMFS Science Centers, and three of the sites within the National Ocean Service National Marine Sanctuary System as well as Cornell University, Oregon State University, and the National Park Service. There are 10 designated locations for the reference stations, with all being deployed by the end of 2015 (Figure 3).
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