Noise

Sound generated during the construction or operation of a device.

During the construction of wind energy or marine renewable energy devices, substantial noise levels can be produced by vessel or vehicle traffic and installation activities (e.g., pile driving, cable burial). Operation of these devices may additionally produce low levels of noise from the rotation of turbine blades, movement of floating devices on the surface, or strumming of mooring lines and cables. Measures to reduce noise impacts in the marine environment include the use of bubble curtains during pile driving and careful siting and timing of construction activities to avoid species’ critical migration routes and times.

Sound propagates farther and faster in water than in air, which can result in greater consequences for the marine environment. Coupled with the many other sources of anthropogenic noise in the marine environment (e.g., ships, seismic studies), the noise from offshore wind and marine renewable energy devices may impact many marine species. Noise may interfere with marine organisms’ communication, navigation, detection of prey, and ability to interact with their environment, as well as causing attraction to or avoidance of devices. Additionally, some marine organisms may be physically harmed from excessive noise exposure (e.g., tissue and nerve damage).

For more information relevant to marine energy, check out the Underwater Noise Short Science Summary produced by OES Environmental.

For more information relevant to offshore wind energy, check out the Underwater Noise Effects on Marine Life research brief produced by SEER.

Marine and Wind Energy Environmental Documents

Tethys is a knowledge hub that contains documents on the environmental effects of wind and marine energy. The table below contains all of the documents in the Tethys Knowledge Base associated with Noise.

Total: 1482

Searches title and abstract.
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Impacts of Offshore Wind Farm Construction on Harbour Porpoises: Acoustic Monitoring of Echolocation Activity using Porpoise Detectors (T-PODs) Carstensen, J., Henriksen, O., Teilmann, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
The potential impact of 1-8 kHz active sonar on stocks of juvenile fish during sonar exercises Kvadsheim, P., Sevaldsen, E. Report Marine Energy Noise Fish
Environmental effect studies – Status more than two years after the erection of Horns Rev and Nysted Offshore Wind Farms Boesen, C., Andersen, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
The Influence of Underwater Data Transmission Sounds on the Displacement Behaviour of Captive Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulina) Kastelein, R., van der Heul, J., Verboom, W. Journal Article Noise, Displacement Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals
Hearing in Fish and their Reactions to Sounds from Offshore Wind Farms Wahlberg, M., Westerberg, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Fish
Effects of Sound on Fish Hastings, M., Popper, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Fish
Some Examples of Marine Mammal 'Discomfort Thresholds' in Relation to Man-Made Noise Verboom, W., Kastelein, R. Report Noise Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Marine Mammal Populations and Ocean Noise: Determining When Noise Causes Biologically Significant Effects National Research Council of the National Academies (NRC) Book Noise Marine Mammals
Impacts of Anthropogenic Sound Hildebrand, J. Book Chapter Noise Marine Mammals
Perception and annoyance due to wind turbine noise-a dose–response relationship Pedersen, E., Waye, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Noise Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Measurements of Underwater Noise During Construction of Offshore Wind Farms and Comparison with Background Noise Nedwell, J., Langworthy, J., Howell, D. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise
A Review of Offshore Windfarm Related Underwater Noise Sources Nedwell, J., Howell, D. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise
A Review Of The Records Of Giant Squid In The North-Eastern Atlantic And Severe Injuries In Architeuthis Dux Stranded After Acoustic Explorations Guerra, A., González, A., Rocha, F. Conference Paper Noise Invertebrates
Fish and Marine Mammal Audiograms: A summary of available information Nedwell, J., Edwards, B., Turnpenny, A. Report Noise Fish, Marine Mammals
Masked auditory thresholds in sciaenid fishes: A comparative study Ramcharitar, J., Popper, A. Journal Article Noise Fish, Human Dimensions
Whale-call response to masking boat noise Foote, A., Osborne, R., Hoelzel, R. Journal Article Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Bouw en exploitatie van een windmolenpark op de Thorntonbank in de Noordzee: Milieueffectenbeoordeling van het project ingediend door de n.v. C-Power Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Chemicals, Collision, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Legal & Policy
North Atlantic Right Whales (Eubalaena glacialis) Ignore Ships but Respond to Alerting Stimuli Nowacek, D., Johnson, M., Tyack, P. Journal Article Attraction, Noise, Vessel Strike Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Marine Mammal Monitoring Plan: San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge East Span Seismic Safety Project Caltrans Report Noise Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals
Underwater Noise Emissions from Offshore Wind Turbines Betke, K., Schultz-von Glahn, M., Matuschek, R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise
Behavioural Reactions of Free-Ranging Porpoises and Seals to the Noise of a Simulated 2 MW Windpower Generator Koschinski, S., Culik, B., Henriksen, O. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Anthropogenic Sound: Effects on the Behavior and Physiology of Fishes Popper, A., Fewtrell, J., Smith, M. Journal Article Noise Fish
Measurement of Underwater Noise During Piling at the Red Funnel Terminal, Southampton, and Observation of its Affect on Caged Fish Nedwell, J., Turnpenny, A., Langworthy, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Fish, Pelagic Fish
Auditory and Behavioral Responses of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) to Single Underwater Impulses from an Arc-Gap Transducer Finneran, J., Dear, R., Carder, D. Journal Article Noise Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals
Utgrunden Offshore Wind Farm Measurements of Underwater Noise Ingemansson Technology Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise
Marine Wind Farms and Cetaceans Doleman, S., Simmonds, M., Keith, S. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Assessment of Sub-Sea Acoustic Noise and Vibration from Offshore Wind Turbines and its Impact on Marine Wildlife; Initial Measurements of Underwater Noise during Construction of Offshore Windfarms, and Comparison with Background Noise Nedwell, J., Langworthy, J., Howell, D. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Fish, Marine Mammals
Short-Term Effects of the Construction of Wind Turbines on Harbour Porpoises at Horns Reef Tougaard, J., Carstensen, J., Hendriksen, O. Report Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Offshore Wind Energy in Europe— A Review of the State-of-the-Art Henderson, A., Morgan, C., Smith, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Noise Birds, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Sound Detection Mechanisms and Capabilities of Teleost Fishes Popper, A., Fay, R., Platt, C. Book Chapter Marine Energy EMF, Noise Fish
A Digital Acoustic Recording Tag for Measuring the Response of Wild Marine Mammals to Sound Johnson, M., Tyack, P. Journal Article Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Ocean Noise and Marine Mammals National Research Council of the National Academies (NRC) Book Noise Marine Mammals
High Intensity Anthropogenic Sound Damages Fish Ears McCauley, R., Fewtrell, J., Popper, A. Journal Article Noise Fish
The Effect of Acoustic Harassment Devices on Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Bay of Fundy, Canada Johnston, D. Journal Article Noise Marine Mammals
Effect of the Sound Generated by an Acoustic Harassment Device on the Relative Abundance and Distribution of Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in Retreat Passage, British Columbia Olesiuk, P., Nichol, L., Sowden, M. Journal Article Noise Marine Mammals
Elsam. Offshore Wind Farm. Horns Rev. Annual status report for the environmental monitoring programme 1. January 2001 - 31. December 2001 Tech-Wise A/S Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Footprints in the wind? Environmental impacts of wind power development Magoha, P. Journal Article Wind Energy Noise Human Dimensions
Evaluation of Wind Turbine Noise DeGagne, D., Lewis, A., May, C. Journal Article Wind Energy Noise
Avian Hearing and the Avoidance of Wind Turbines Dooling, R. Report Wind Energy Noise, Avoidance Birds
Underwater Noise of Whale Watching Boats and Potential Effects on Killer Whales (Orcinus orca), Based on an Acoustic Impact Model Erbe, C. Journal Article Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Displaying 1401 - 1440 of 1482 results