title: Seasonal presence of cetaceans and ambient noise levels in polar waters of the North Atlantic.
abstract: In 2009 two calibrated acoustic recorders were deployed in polar waters of the North Atlantic to study the seasonal occurrence of blue, fin, and sperm whales and to assess current ambient noise levels. Sounds from these cetaceans were recorded at both locations in most months of the year. During the summer months, seismic airguns associated with oil and gas exploration were audible for weeks at a time and dominated low frequency noise levels. Noise levels might further increase in the future as the receding sea ice enables extended human use of the area.
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies, Oregon State University and Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2030 Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon 97365, USA. Holger.Klinck@oregonstate.edu
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Klinck
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Nieukirk
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Mellinger
authors.forename: Karolin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klinck
authors.forename: Haruyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dziak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D050616:Balaenoptera / Q000502:physiology; D002591:Cetacea / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D050617:Fin Whale / Q000502:physiology; D007221:Industry; D009622:Noise; D061329:Oil and Gas Fields; D012621:Seasons; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D050661:Sperm Whale / Q000502:physiology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water