Clare Embling 2015 Seals & Shipping Noise

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Seals and shipping noise in a dynamic sea: seasonal changes in shipping noise exposure experienced by diving seals Chen, F.1, Shapiro, G.1, Bennett, K.1, Ingram, S.N.1, Thompson, D.2, Vincent, C.3, Russell, D.2, & Embling, C.B.1 1. School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA 2. Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB 3. Université de La Rochelle, Avenue Michel Crepeau, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex, France Email: clare.embling@plymouth.ac.uk Shipping noise is a major contributor to anthropogenic noise in the sea, which is now classed as pollution in accordance with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). However, we know little about how it impacts marine organisms. In this study we investigate potential shipping noise experienced by grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Celtic Sea by overlaying their GPS tracks and dive data, over a state-of-the-art ocean (POLCOMS) and acoustic (HARCAM) propagation model populated with real-time AIS shipping data in summer and winter. Our results show a clear influence of the seasonal thermocline (April-November) on shipping noise propagation. In summer the areas of high noise exposure were situated below the thermocline when the ship was located on the onshore side of oceanic fronts, and above the thermocline when the ship was on the offshore side of oceanic fronts. The difference in sound level between the top and bottom of the water column was as high as ~20dB. Shipping noise propagated much further (tens of kilometres) in winter than in summer. Furthermore, our study shows strong step changes of sound perceived by seals during their descent/ascent through water column. Since grey seals tend to be benthic foragers, the step-change in sound exposure may have negative impacts on their foraging behaviour. It is only through a more realistic understanding of exposure of animals to ship noise that we can set appropriate management and mitigation targets.

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Seals and shipping noise in a dynamic sea: seasonal changes in shipping noise exposure experienced by diving seals Chen, F.1, Shapiro, G.1, Bennett, K.1, Ingram, S.N.1, Thompson, D.2, Vincent, C.3, Russell, D.2, & Embling, C.B.1 1. School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA 2. Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB 3. Université de La Rochelle, Avenue Michel Crepeau, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex, France Email: clare.embling@plymouth.ac.uk Shipping noise is a major contributor to anthropogenic noise in the sea, which is now classed as pollution in accordance with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). However, we know little about how it impacts marine organisms. In this study we investigate potential shipping noise experienced by grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Celtic Sea by overlaying their GPS tracks and dive data, over a state-of-the-art ocean (POLCOMS) and acoustic (HARCAM) propagation model populated with real-time AIS shipping data in summer and winter. Our results show a clear influence of the seasonal thermocline (April-November) on shipping noise propagation. In summer the areas of high noise exposure were situated below the thermocline when the ship was located on the onshore side of oceanic fronts, and above the thermocline when the ship was on the offshore side of oceanic fronts. The difference in sound level between the top and bottom of the water column was as high as ~20dB. Shipping noise propagated much further (tens of kilometres) in winter than in summer. Furthermore, our study shows strong step changes of sound perceived by seals during their descent/ascent through water column. Since grey seals tend to be benthic foragers, the step-change in sound exposure may have negative impacts on their foraging behaviour. It is only through a more realistic understanding of exposure of animals to ship noise that we can set appropriate management and mitigation targets.

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878 views18 pages

Clare Embling 2015 Seals & Shipping Noise

Uploaded by

Coastal Futures

Description:

Seals and shipping noise in a dynamic sea: seasonal changes in shipping noise exposure experienced by diving seals Chen, F.1, Shapiro, G.1, Bennett, K.1, Ingram, S.N.1, Thompson, D.2, Vincent, C.3, Russell, D.2, & Embling, C.B.1 1. School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA 2. Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB 3. Université de La Rochelle, Avenue Michel Crepeau, 17042 La Rochelle Cedex, France Email: clare.embling@plymouth.ac.uk Shipping noise is a major contributor to anthropogenic noise in the sea, which is now classed as pollution in accordance with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). However, we know little about how it impacts marine organisms. In this study we investigate potential shipping noise experienced by grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Celtic Sea by overlaying their GPS tracks and dive data, over a state-of-the-art ocean (POLCOMS) and acoustic (HARCAM) propagation model populated with real-time AIS shipping data in summer and winter. Our results show a clear influence of the seasonal thermocline (April-November) on shipping noise propagation. In summer the areas of high noise exposure were situated below the thermocline when the ship was located on the onshore side of oceanic fronts, and above the thermocline when the ship was on the offshore side of oceanic fronts. The difference in sound level between the top and bottom of the water column was as high as ~20dB. Shipping noise propagated much further (tens of kilometres) in winter than in summer. Furthermore, our study shows strong step changes of sound perceived by seals during their descent/ascent through water column. Since grey seals tend to be benthic foragers, the step-change in sound exposure may have negative impacts on their foraging behaviour. It is only through a more realistic understanding of exposure of animals to ship noise that we can set appropriate management and mitigation targets.

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Seals and shipping noise in a dynamic sea:

seasonal changes in shipping noise exposure


experienced by diving seals
Chen F., Shapiro G., Bennett K.A., Ingram S.N., Thompson D.,
Vincent C., Russell D., Embling C.B.
feng.chen@plymouth.ac.uk
clare.embling@plymouth.ac.uk
@ClareEmbling
@MarineVerts

Introduction
Shipping noise
Increasing continuously
A major contributor to ocean noise
Low frequency (10-1000Hz)
Detrimental effects on animals

Legislation of shipping noise


European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)
International Marine Organisation (IMO)
International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Aims and objectives


To examine how oceanic processes affect noise
propagation
Summer and winter (stratified vs non-stratified)
Location of ship (onshore and offshore side of front)

To predict potential noise exposure by diving


seals in 3D
Moving source (ship)
Moving receiver (seal)

Modelling system
Ocean modelling: POLCOMS

Sediments

Temperature
Salinity

Propagation modelling: HARCAM


Transmission
loss (dB)

Real-time shipping AIS data


Position, size
and speed

Seal diving data

Sound
Exposure

Species
Grey Seal
~45% in UK
Able to hear noise
Benthic forager
Diving data
GPS tags
SW Wales

Courtesy of Bennett K.A.

Sound frequency relationship between animal and ship


(B. Southall, NMFS/NOAA)

Shipping density in UK

Map of shipping density around UK waters plotted by using ShipAIS


(Shipping Automatic Identification System) data (BMT, 2013)

Study area
Wales

The Celtic Sea


Shallow
B

Strong stratification
Temperature fronts

High shipping density


Ship track

Transect

Locations of
the ship

Temperature and Transmission Loss of transect A


Summer

Winter

Locations of the ship

Temperature and Transmission Loss of transect B


Summer

Winter

Locations of the ship

Cumulative Sound Exposure Level (SEL)


SEL at a water depth of 50m
Summer

Winter

Diving profiles of a pup seal in 3D


2D view

Seal

Ship

3D view

Received level by a pup seal along diving path

Received level by a pup seal along diving path

Bottom
Bottom
frontfront

Discussion and Conclusion


Oceanic processes (e.g. stratification and fronts) have
strong effects on noise propagation
High interactions with shipping noise
Benthic foragers
Able to travel large distance

Step changes in the sound level are frequent while


foraging, which may have negative effects on grey seals
How do grey seals respond to such step change of sound?
Path changes
Changes in diving
Relate changes to sound level

Thank you for your attention !

Pup

Adult

Input TS
Water column data: section 189
1. Observational data

2. Modelled data

Scanfish temperature data collected in the


Celtic Sea in Aug 1998 (Brown et al., 2003)

Fully 3D predicted temperature data

Mean error: -0.17C

RMSe: 0.83

Willmott skill (0 - 1): 0.97


Chen et al., 2013

Input TS
Water column data: section 202
1. Observational data

2. Modelled data

Scanfish temperature data collected in the


Celtic Sea in Sep 1998 (Brown et al., 2003)

Fully 3D predicted temperature data

Mean error: -0.35C

RMSe: 0.53

Willmott skill (0 - 1): 0.98


Chen et al., 2013

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