title: Underwater radiated noise levels of a research icebreaker in the central Arctic Ocean.
abstract: U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy's underwater radiated noise signature was characterized in the central Arctic Ocean during different types of ice-breaking operations. Propulsion modes included transit in variable ice cover, breaking heavy ice with backing-and-ramming maneuvers, and dynamic positioning with the bow thruster in operation. Compared to open-water transit, Healy's noise signature increased approximately 10 dB between 20 Hz and 2 kHz when breaking ice. The highest noise levels resulted while the ship was engaged in backing-and-ramming maneuvers, owing to cavitation when operating the propellers astern or in opposing directions. In frequency bands centered near 10, 50, and 100 Hz, source levels reached 190-200 dB re: 1 μPa at 1 m (full octave band) during ice-breaking operations.
authors.affiliation: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0205, USA. eroth@hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Ethan H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Val
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hildebrand
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wiggins
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D001110:Arctic Regions; D007053:Ice; D009038:Motion; D009624:Noise, Transportation; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012767:Ships; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D007053:Ice; D014867:Water