Underwater noise modelling for environmental impact assessment

Assessment of underwater noise is increasingly required by regulators of development projects in marine and freshwater habitats, and noise pollution can be a constraining factor in the consenting process. Noise levels arising from the proposed activity are modelled and the potential impact on specie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental impact assessment review 2016-02, Vol.57, p.114-122
Main Authors: Farcas, Adrian, Thompson, Paul M., Merchant, Nathan D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acoustic modelling
Acoustics
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
Assessments
Bioacoustics
Disturbance
Environmental impact assessments
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FRESH WATER
Freshwater ecology
Habitats
MAMMALS
Marine biology
Marine mammals
Mathematical models
Modelling
Noise
Noise pollution
RISK ASSESSMENT
SIMULATION
Uncertainty
UNDERWATER
Underwater exploration
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Summary:Assessment of underwater noise is increasingly required by regulators of development projects in marine and freshwater habitats, and noise pollution can be a constraining factor in the consenting process. Noise levels arising from the proposed activity are modelled and the potential impact on species of interest within the affected area is then evaluated. Although there is considerable uncertainty in the relationship between noise levels and impacts on aquatic species, the science underlying noise modelling is well understood. Nevertheless, many environmental impact assessments (EIAs) do not reflect best practice, and stakeholders and decision makers in the EIA process are often unfamiliar with the concepts and terminology that are integral to interpreting noise exposure predictions. In this paper, we review the process of underwater noise modelling and explore the factors affecting predictions of noise exposure. Finally, we illustrate the consequences of errors and uncertainties in noise modelling, and discuss future research needs to reduce uncertainty in noise assessments.
ISSN:0195-9255
1873-6432
DOI:10.1016/j.eiar.2015.11.012