Decomposing an urban soundscape to reveal patterns and drivers of variation in anthropogenic noise

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2017-12, Vol.599-600, p.1191-1201
• Main Authors: Gill, Sharon A., Grabarczyk, Erin E., Baker, Kathleen M., Naghshineh, Koorosh, Vonhof, Maarten J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropogenic noise; Continuous noise; Decibel duration curve; Intermittent noise; Land use; Sound pressure levels
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.229

Continuous and intermittent noise may have different effects on humans and wildlife, therefore distinguishing temporal patterns of noise and their drivers is important for policy regarding both public health and wildlife management. We visualized patterns and explored land-use drivers of continuous and high-amplitude intermittent sound pressure levels (SPLs) on an urban campus in Michigan, U.S.A. To visualize patterns of SPLs, we introduce decibel duration curves (DDCs), which show the cumulative frequency distribution of SPLs and aid in the interpretation of statistical SPLs (Ln values) that reflect continuous versus intermittent sounds. DDCs and Ln values reveal that our 24 recording locations varied in the intensity of both continuous and intermittent noise, with intermittent high-amplitude sound events in particular contributing to variability in SPLs over the study site. Time of day influenced both continuous and intermittent SPLs, as locations relatively close to manmade structures (buildings, roads and parking lots) experienced higher SPLs as the day progressed. Continuous SPLs increased with decreasing distance to manmade structures, whereas intermittent SPLs increased with decreasing distance to roads and increasing distance to buildings. Thus, different land-use factors influenced patterns of continuous and intermittent noise, which suggests that different policy and strategies may be needed to ameliorate their effects on the public and wildlife. [Display omitted] •Patterns and drivers of continuous and intermittent anthropogenic noise poorly known.•Decibel duration curves were used to visualize patterns of sound pressure levels (SPLs).•Continuous SPLs increased over time and with decreasing distances to manmade structures.•Intermittent SPLs increased over time and with decreasing distances to roads.•Different factors influenced continuous and intermittent noise across sites.