title: Seismic Survey Footprints in Irish Waters: A Starting Point for Effective Mitigation.
abstract: The noise footprint of a given activity is defined as the area where the noise from the activity spreads into the ocean at levels above the existing statistical ambient noise. The noise footprints of seismic surveys in Irish waters from 2,000 to 2,011 have been estimated using Quonops, a global ocean noise prediction service. Noise footprints are converted into sound exposure levels to evaluate the cumulative risks toward high-, mid-, and low-frequency marine mammals. The results demonstrate large variability in risk areas as a function of existing ambient-noise levels, season, survey location, and characteristics of the survey.
authors.affiliation: Quiet-Oceans, 65 place Nicolas Copernic, Plouzané, 29280, France. thomas.folegot@quiet-oceans.com.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Folegot
authors.affiliation: Quiet-Oceans, 65 place Nicolas Copernic, Plouzané, 29280, France. dominique.clorennec@quiet-oceans.com.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clorennec
authors.affiliation: Coastal and Marine Research Centre, University College Cork, Irish Naval Base, Haulbowline, Cobh, County Cork, Ireland. gerry.sutton@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.affiliation: Coastal and Marine Research Centre, University College Cork, Irish Naval Base, Haulbowline, Cobh, County Cork, Ireland. m.jessopp@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jessopp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002591:Cetacea / Q000502:physiology; D007494:Ireland; D009622:Noise; D012623:Seawater; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Marine Strategy Framework Directive; Marine mammals; Monitoring; Noise; Quonops