scholarly journals The Next Wave of Passive Acoustic Data Management: How Centralized Access Can Enhance Science

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie C. Wall ◽  
Samara M. Haver ◽  
Leila T. Hatch ◽  
Jennifer Miksis-Olds ◽  
Rob Bochenek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Reference Station ◽  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Coastal Zones ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Acoustic Data ◽  
First Order ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Passive Acoustic

Passive acoustic data collection has grown exponentially over the past decade resulting in petabytes of data that document our ocean soundscapes. This effort has resulted in two big data challenges: (1) the curation, management, and global dissemination of passive acoustic datasets and (2) efficiently extracting critical information and comparing it to other datasets in the context of ecosystem-based research and management. To address the former, the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information recently established an archive for passive acoustic data. This fast-growing archive currently contains over 100 TB of passive acoustic audio files mainly collected from stationary recorders throughout waters in the United States. These datasets are documented with standards-based metadata and are freely available to the public. To begin to address the latter, through standardized processing and centralized stewardship and access, we provide a previously unattainable comparison of first order sound level-patterns from archived data collected across three distinctly separate long-term passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) efforts conducted at regional and national scales: NOAA/National Park Service Ocean Noise Reference Station Network, the Atlantic Deepwater Ecosystem Observatory Network, and the Sanctuary Soundscape Monitoring Project. Nine sites were selected from these projects covering the Alaskan Arctic, Northeast and Central Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Mid and Northwest Atlantic. Sites could generally be categorized into those strongly influenced by anthropogenic noise (e.g., vessel traffic) and those that were not. Higher sound levels, specifically for lower frequencies (<125 Hz), and proximity to densely populated coastal zones were common characteristics of sites influenced by anthropogenic noise. Conversely, sites with lower overall sound levels and away from dense populations resulted in soundscape patterns influenced by biological sources. Seasonal variability in sound levels across selected decidecade bands was apparent for most sites and often represented changes in the presence or behavior of sound-producing species. This first order examination of levels across projects highlights the utility of these initial metrics to identify patterns that can then be examined in more detail. Finally, to help the PAM community collectively and collaboratively move forward, we propose the next frontier for scalable data stewardship, access, and processing flow.

Assessing the Potential for Noise Complaints due to Backyard Chickens

2021 ◽  
Vol 263 (1) ◽  
pp. 5106-5113
Author(s):  
Charles Moritz
Keyword(s):  
Prediction Models ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
Technical Literature ◽  
The Past ◽  
Common Complaint ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Chicken Breeds ◽  
Backyard Chickens

During the past decade, there has been tremendous growth in the popularity of backyard chickens in urban and suburban locations throughout the United States. While there are many advantages to raising chickens, their introduction has not gone without controversy. Noise has been a common concern during discussions of municipal ordnances and a common complaint against flock owners. There is very little data on the sound levels produced by chickens in the technical literature. What data is published is not appropriate for predicting sound levels at owners' property lines. In addition, the non-technical literature, social media, newspaper stories, etc. abounds with misinformation. To determine the sound power of various chicken breeds, the author has been measuring sound levels from birds in his flock. This data can then be compared to the sound level from other typical back yard sound sources, existing community annoyance prediction models, and records of noise complaints.

scholarly journals How Wildlife Respond to Natural Noise

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan G.E. Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Sound Level ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Frequency Noise ◽  
Spider Webs ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Natural Noise ◽  
Acoustic Environments ◽  
High Sound

Animal sensory systems have evolved in a natural din of noise since the evolution of sensory organs. Anthropogenic noise is a recent addition to the environment, which has had demonstrable, largely negative, effects on wildlife. Yet, we know relatively little about how animals respond to natural sources of noise, which can differ substantially in acoustic characteristics from human-caused noise. Here we review the noise literature and suggest an evolutionary approach for framing the study of novel, anthropogenic sources of noise. We also push for a more quantitative approach to acoustic ecology research. To build a better foundation around the effects of natural noise on wildlife, we experimentally and continuously broadcast whitewater river noise across a landscape for three summers. Additionally, we use spectrally-altered river noise to explicitly test the effects of masking as a mechanism driving patterns. We then monitored bird, bat, and arthropod abundance and activity and assessed predator-prey relationships with bird and bat foraging assays and by counting prey in spider webs. Birds and bats largely avoided high sound levels in noisy environments. Bats also avoided acoustic environments dominated by high frequency noise while birds avoided noise that overlapped with their song, the latter trend suggesting that communication is impaired. Yet, when sound levels were high overlapping noise was not any more disruptive than non-overlapping noise, which suggests that intense noise interferes with more than communication. Avoidance of noise that overlapped in frequency with song was stronger for low-frequency singers. Bats that employ higher frequency echolocation were more likely to avoid high sound level noise; we explore potential explanations for this pattern. Most arthropod Orders responded to noise, yet the directions of effects were not consistent across taxa. Some arthropods increased in abundance in high sound level areas - perhaps in response to the absence of bird and bat predators. Reinforcing this possibility, visually foraging birds and passively listening bats decreased foraging effort beyond what was expected based on declines in abundance and activity. Orb-weaving spiders increased dramatically in high sound level areas, which could be due to a release from predation, an increase in prey capture, or direct attraction to high sound level river noise. Overall, we demonstrated significant changes to many vertebrate and invertebrate taxa during playback of whitewater river noise. We were able to parse out the effects of sound pressure level and background frequency on these individual taxa and predator-prey behaviors. Our results reveal that animals have likely long been affected by particular characteristics of noise, which may help explain contemporary responses to anthropogenic noise. As the spatial and temporal footprint of anthropogenic noise is orders of magnitude greater than intense natural acoustic environments, the insights provided by our data increase the importance of mitigating noise pollution impacts on animals and their habitats. It is clear that natural noise has the power to alter animal abundances and behavior in a way that likely reverberates through entire communities and food webs. Future work should focus on strengthening the relationships between these potential predators and prey and highlight how the structure of the system changes under such noise treatments.

Sagebrush Soundscapes and the Effects of Gas-Field Sounds on Greater Sage-Grouse

Western Birds ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-46
Author(s):  
Skip Ambrose ◽  
Christine Florian ◽  
Justin Olnes ◽  
John MacDonald ◽  
Therese Hartman
Keyword(s):  
Background Level ◽  
Centrocercus Urophasianus ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Current Policy ◽  
Sage Grouse ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Gas Field ◽  
Brood Rearing ◽  
Acoustic Data ◽  
Sound Levels

Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) use elaborate acoustic and visual displays to attract and select mates, and females and chicks depend on acoustic communication during brood rearing. A potential threat to the grouse is sounds associated with human activity. During April, 2013–2020, we collected 17,825 hours of acoustic data in three different acoustic situations in the sagebrush of Wyoming: rural, undeveloped areas (6), at Greater Sage-Grouse leks in a natural-gas field (20), and near active machinery in that gas field (17). The average existing sound levels in undeveloped sagebrush areas were LAeq = 26 dB and LA50 = 20 dB, and the average background sound level was LA90 = 14 dB. These values are lower than previously reported, due in part to our use of more sensitive equipment as well as addressing the influence of the instruments’ electronic self-noise. LAeq and LA50 at leks in the gas field ranged from 25.5 to 33.7 dB and 20.5 to 31.3 dB, respectively, depending on the distance, number, and type of nearby activities. Sound levels at leks were correlated with trends in the number of grouse using the lek: the higher the sound level, the greater the likelihood of a decline. Thresholds above which declines occurred were LAeq = 31 dB and LA50 = 26 dB. Leks with LAeq > 31 dB and LA50 >26 dB, 100% and 91%, respectively, had declining trends. Our findings suggest that the current policy of limiting sound levels at leks to LA50 < 10 dB (or LAeq < 15 dB) over the background sound level is appropriate, if an accurate background level is used.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Sound and Amenities of Transit-Oriented Developments

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (13) ◽  
pp. 2413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yalcin Yildirim ◽  
Diane Jones Allen ◽  
Amy Albright
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Environmental Planning ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Transit Oriented Development ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Level Of Significance ◽  
High Sound

Experts in diverse fields have investigated sound in cities throughout the United States. This research aims to examine sound levels and determine its contributors at the transit-oriented development (TOD) station and neighborhood levels by studying selected Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail stations. A multilevel analysis was performed to model the likelihood of TOD stations and neighborhoods affecting sound levels, controlling for station amenities, socio-demographics and built environment characteristics. Sound measurements were sampled in three time intervals with 15 min sampling over weekdays and weekends at TOD and non-TOD stations by a type II SPL meter that was mounted on a small camera tripod at a height of 1.5 m, at a distance of 1.5 m from rails and curbs. The research team found that amenities, built environmental characteristics, and neighborhood features have significant implications on sound levels at both the TOD station and the neighborhood level, which affects quality of life (QoL). TOD stations that include more amenities have a greater level of significance on sound levels. Additionally, neighborhoods with a pervasive street grid configuration, public facilities, and built environment densities are significantly associated with a likelihood of high sound levels. Conversely, higher population densities and intersection densities decrease the likelihood of a high sound level environment. These patterns provide an arena for transportation, urban, and environmental planning and policymaking to generate transformative solutions and policies.

scholarly journals Changes in Underwater Noise and Vessel Traffic in the Approaches to Halifax Harbor, Nova Scotia, Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Breeze ◽  
Shihan Li ◽  
Emmaline C. Marotte ◽  
James A. Theriault ◽  
Jessica Wingfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Frequency Band ◽  
Coast Guard ◽  
Automatic Identification ◽  
Identification System ◽  
Underwater Noise ◽  
Acoustic Data ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Passive Acoustic

Over the past two years, researchers at Fisheries and Oceans Canada have been running an acoustic monitoring project at multiple study sites throughout Nova Scotia, Canada to investigate baleen whale presence and levels of underwater noise. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a passive acoustic monitor (PAM) was in place in the study site located in the approaches to Halifax Harbor, a major Canadian port. This provided a unique opportunity to determine if changes in vessel noise levels occurred after pandemic restrictions were put in place. To investigate this, we analyzed and compared acoustic data collected from March 28 to April 28 and August 6 to October 22 in both 2019 and 2020. We also investigated possible changes in vessel traffic from February 1 through April 28 and July 1 through July 28 in 2019 and 2020 using terrestrial-based automatic identification system (AIS) data provided by the Canadian Coast Guard and cargo information provided by the Port of Halifax. The acoustic data were analyzed in 1/3 octave frequency bands. For the 89.1–112 Hz frequency band, we found an 8.4 dB increase in the daily minimum sound pressure level (SPL) in April 2020 compared to April 2019 due the presence of a large crane vessel stationed near the mooring site. For the period of August to October, we found an approximately 1.7 dB reduction in the same metric from 2019 to 2020. The most noticeable change in vessel composition was the dramatic decrease in the number and occurrence of pleasure craft in July 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. While this analysis looked at only a single PAM and a limited amount of data, we observed changes in sound levels in the frequency band known to be associated with shipping as well as changes in vessel traffic; we conclude that these observed changes may be related to pandemic restrictions.

scholarly journals Boat Noise and Black Drum Vocalizations in Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon (Argentina)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Maria Ceraulo ◽  
María Paz Sal Moyano ◽  
Fernando Jose Hidalgo ◽  
María Cielo Bazterrica ◽  
Salvatore Mazzola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Coastal Lagoon ◽  
Acoustic Method ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Marine Biota ◽  
Call Rate ◽  
Noise Frequency ◽  
Passive Acoustic

Human-generated underwater noise and its effect on marine biota is recognized as an important issue. Boat noise can affect the communication success of fish species that use sounds for spawning purposes. During the reproductive period, males of the black drum Pogonias spp. produce calls ranging from 90 Hz to 300 Hz. In the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Pogonias courbina is one of the primary fishing species. Although no regulation is directly applied to protect it, a ban protects the reproductive period of other fish species during weekdays. Here, we investigated the potential effect of boat noise on P. courbina vocalizations through a passive acoustic method. Acoustic data were collected, and P. courbina calls were identified and counted. The files with boat noise passages were categorized into classes according to their noise frequency range (A = below 700 Hz, B = over 700 Hz, and C = below and above 700 Hz). The fish call rate was lower in files where boat noise overlapped the fish call frequency (Classes A and C). Only boat noise from Class C was significantly reduced during days with the active fishing ban. These results suggest that anthropogenic noise may affect the P. courbina call rate and underline the importance of including the evaluation of anthropogenic noise in the current management of the area.

scholarly journals The Spatial Selective Auditory Attention of Cochlear Implant Users in Different Conversational Sound Levels

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. 3078
Author(s):  
Sara Akbarzadeh ◽  
Sungmin Lee ◽  
Chin-Tuan Tan
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Auditory Attention ◽  
Impaired Hearing ◽  
Speech Stimuli ◽  
Electric Hearing ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Acoustic Hearing ◽  
Speech Envelope ◽  
Different Levels

In multi-speaker environments, cochlear implant (CI) users may attend to a target sound source in a different manner from normal hearing (NH) individuals during a conversation. This study attempted to investigate the effect of conversational sound levels on the mechanisms adopted by CI and NH listeners in selective auditory attention and how it affects their daily conversation. Nine CI users (five bilateral, three unilateral, and one bimodal) and eight NH listeners participated in this study. The behavioral speech recognition scores were collected using a matrix sentences test, and neural tracking to speech envelope was recorded using electroencephalography (EEG). Speech stimuli were presented at three different levels (75, 65, and 55 dB SPL) in the presence of two maskers from three spatially separated speakers. Different combinations of assisted/impaired hearing modes were evaluated for CI users, and the outcomes were analyzed in three categories: electric hearing only, acoustic hearing only, and electric + acoustic hearing. Our results showed that increasing the conversational sound level degraded the selective auditory attention in electrical hearing. On the other hand, increasing the sound level improved the selective auditory attention for the acoustic hearing group. In the NH listeners, however, increasing the sound level did not cause a significant change in the auditory attention. Our result implies that the effect of the sound level on selective auditory attention varies depending on the hearing modes, and the loudness control is necessary for the ease of attending to the conversation by CI users.

scholarly journals Multi-year presence of humpback whales in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean but not during El Niño

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Schall ◽  
Karolin Thomisch ◽  
Olaf Boebel ◽  
Gabriele Gerlach ◽  
Sari Mangia Woods ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Ocean ◽  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Low Latitude ◽  
Sea Ice Extent ◽  
Atlantic Sector ◽  
Acoustic Data ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Passive Acoustic

AbstractHumpback whales are thought to undertake annual migrations between their low latitude breeding grounds and high latitude feeding grounds. However, under specific conditions, humpback whales sometimes change their migratory destination or skip migration overall. Here we document the surprising persistent presence of humpback whales in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean during five years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2018) using passive acoustic data. However, in the El Niño years 2015 and 2016, humpback whales were virtually absent. Our data show that humpback whales are systematically present in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean and suggest that these whales are particularly sensitive to climate oscillations which have profound effects on winds, sea ice extent, primary production, and especially krill productivity.

scholarly journals Impact of sound levels and patient-related factors on sleep of patients in the intensive care unit: a cross-sectional cohort study

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr F. Czempik ◽  
Agnieszka Jarosińska ◽  
Krystyna Machlowska ◽  
Michał P. Pluta
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Sleep disruption is common in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of the study was to measure sound levels during sleep-protected time in the ICU, determine sources of sound, assess the impact of sound levels and patient-related factors on duration and quality of patients' sleep. The study was performed between 2018 and 2019. A commercially available smartphone application was used to measure ambient sound levels. Sleep duration was measured using the Patient's Sleep Behaviour Observational Tool. Sleep quality was assessed using the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ). The study population comprised 18 (58%) men and 13 (42%) women. There were numerous sources of sound. The median duration of sleep was 5 (IQR 3.5–5.7) hours. The median score on the RCSQ was 49 (IQR 28–71) out of 100 points. Sound levels were negatively correlated with sleep duration. The cut-off peak sound level, above which sleep duration was shorter than mean sleep duration in the cohort, was 57.9 dB. Simple smartphone applications can be useful to estimate sound levels in the ICU. There are numerous sources of sound in the ICU. Individual units should identify and eliminate their own sources of sound. Sources of sound producing peak sound levels above 57.9 dB may lead to shorter sleep and should be eliminated from the ICU environment. The sound levels had no effect on sleep quality.

Mechanisms Contributing to the Warming Hole and the Consequent U.S. East–West Differential of Heat Extremes

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (18) ◽  
pp. 6394-6408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald A. Meehl ◽  
Julie M. Arblaster ◽  
Grant Branstator
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Coupled Model ◽  
The United States ◽  
Convective Heating ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Southeastern Part ◽  
Climate System Model ◽  
East West

Abstract A linear trend calculated for observed annual mean surface air temperatures over the United States for the second-half of the twentieth century shows a slight cooling over the southeastern part of the country, the so-called warming hole, while temperatures over the rest of the country rose significantly. This east–west gradient of average temperature change has contributed to the observed pattern of changes of record temperatures as given by the ratio of daily record high temperatures to record low temperatures with a comparable east–west gradient. Ensemble averages of twentieth-century climate simulations in the Community Climate System Model, version 3 (CCSM3), show a slight west–east warming gradient but no warming hole. A warming hole appears in only several ensemble members in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (CMIP3) multimodel dataset and in one ensemble member of simulated twentieth-century climate in CCSM3. In this model the warming hole is produced mostly from internal decadal time-scale variability originating mainly from the equatorial central Pacific associated with the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). Analyses of a long control run of the coupled model, and specified convective heating anomaly experiments in the atmosphere-only version of the model, trace the forcing of the warming hole to positive convective heating anomalies in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean near the date line. Cold-air advection into the southeastern United States in winter, and low-level moisture convergence in that region in summer, contribute most to the warming hole in those seasons. Projections show a disappearance of the warming hole, but ongoing greater surface temperature increases in the western United States compared to the eastern United States.

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