OERA Webinar with Dr. Bruce Martin: How Does Sound Travel in High Energy Environments? Effectiveness of Acoustic Monitoring Systems and Turbine Audibility Assessment

Recorded December 10, 2020 | Hosted by OREA (Offshore Energy Research Association)

Dr. Bruce Martin, JASCO Applied Sciences (Canada) Ltd

Researchers are designing and implementing a long-term acoustic monitoring program to support tidal energy development in the Bay of Fundy. Specialized acoustic instrumentation was deployed for a two-month period in Grand Passage to advance understanding how turbulence affects the ability to detect marine mammals, and to what extent these species can detect a tidal turbine. State-of-the-art hydrophones were deployed together with an active source that generates dolphin-like whistles and clicks. Soundscape data was collected during the instrument deployment period and is being modeled to measure how low-frequency sounds (e.g. dolphin clicks) propagate through turbulent waters. The modeling results will help infer how the turbulent flow impacts on the ability to detect the presence of marine life. 

Watch the webinar recording below.

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