Effect of Noise on Marine Mammals and their Environment

by

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am most thankful to my family colleagues and instructor for providing me assistance and guidance throughout the tenure of this research project. this research would not have been completed without their undue support.

DECLARATION

I declare that this study has not been published previously and represents my own work based on the secondary and the primary research analysis.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research paper is to examine the impact of the seismic surveys in the marine environment and the good mitigation practices in controlling the impact of these surveys. This research has focused on the secondary research method primarily by collecting the case studies. However, for further validating the findings, the interview researches were also conducted with the key professionals in the field of marine biology and the environmental science. It has been found that the seismic surveys have a great influence on the communication process among the marine mammals. To cope with such increasing impact on the mammals, the visual observers or passive acoustic monitors are the best methods to maintain safety zones around the sound source. The radii of such zones can be set to prevent serious injury or death. Moreover, the contentious atmosphere regarding the impacts of anthropogenic sound has focused the development of regulations on the limitation of the exposure of marine mammals to loud sounds that can be associated with specific projects or activities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS1

Potential Impact of Seismic Survey on the Marine Environment1

Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammals2

Impacts on a Population Scale4

Mitigation: Good Practices5

Regulating Anthropogenic Sound in the Arctic Marine Environment7

Refinement of the Marine Seismic Work8

Practitioners' Experiences10

Mitigation10

Monitoring10

Distinguishing Unwanted Reflections11

Nodes and Reprocessing12

Field Procedures13

CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION14

Managing Seismic Surveys15

Creating Acoustic Habitats to Assess Anthropogenic Sound and Its Effects17

Recommendations18

Conclusion19

REFERECNES21

CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS

From the secondary research case study analysis, it was found that the offshore surveys comprise of the use of the high energy sources operated in the water column to probe below the sea floor. Almost all the frequently used seismic sources have the release of the compressed aur to bring about the signals which are impulsive. These signals are directed downwards by the seabed to be reflected upward by the velocity discontinuities within the rock strata. The returned signals are stored and processed by the geophysics to provide profiles of the seafloor which is common at the depth of 10km. Pressure waves necessary for performing a seismic survey is achieved by compressed air shots performed by air guns driven by powerful compressors. The guns free up a certain high pressure that creates the waves of sound and the contraction and expansion of the air bubble. It typically includes sensors which detect sound pressure waves reflected from the seabed to form a picture of the surface of the seabed and of the sediment and rock layers that lie below it.

Before submarines and fishing vessels, the oceans were a quieter place for animal life, but today, underwater noise is produced by man, and anthropogenic are covering a large ...