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.

Affiliated Marine and Wind Energy Environmental Documents

Total results: 1270
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Analysis of the Usefulness of Measurement on a Board at Ground Level for Assessing the Noise Level from a Wind Turbine Wszolek, T., Pawlik, P., Mleczko, D. Journal Article Wind Energy Noise
Assessment of impacts on tropical marine environment for off-shore clean energy development Kandlakunta, L., Deshmukh, M., Sharma, N. Journal Article Noise
Impulsive pile driving noise elicits alarm responses in squid (Doryteuthis pealeii) Jones, I., Stanley, J., Mooney, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Invertebrates
Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms in the Belgian Part of the North Sea: Empirical Evidence Inspiring Priority Monitoring, Research and Management Degraer, S., Brabant, R., Rumes, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
The role of ambient sound levels, signal-to-noise ratio, and stimulus pulse rate on behavioural disturbance of seabass in a net pen Hubert, J., Neo, Y., Winter, H. Journal Article Noise Fish, Pelagic Fish
Cumulative Noise Impacts Upon Fishes (and Turtles) from Offshore Wind Farm Construction and Operation Popper, A., Hawkins, A. Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Fish, Marine Mammals
Behavioural responses in a congested sea: an observational study on a coastal nest-guarding fish Mascolino, S., Mariani, S., Benvenuto, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Fish
The use of seal scarers as a protective mitigation measure can induce hearing impairment in harbour porpoises Schaffeld, T., Ruser, A., Woelfing, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Wind turbine noise limits propagation of greater prairiechicken boom chorus, but does it matter? Whalen, C., Brown, M., McGee, J. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Noise Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Monitoring annoyance and stress effects of wind turbines on nearby residents Hübner, G., Pohl, J., Hoen, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Noise Human Dimensions
From DNA to ecological performance: Effects of anthropogenic noise on a reef-building mussel Wale, M., Briers, R., Hartl, M. Journal Article Noise Invertebrates
SEA Wave D2.3 Environmental Demonstration Strategy Fox, J. Report Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change, Noise Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
The importance of underwater sounds to gadoid fishes Hawkins, A., Picciulin, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Fish, Demersal Fish
Underwater Noise Evidence Base OES-Environmental Summary Marine Energy Noise
Effects of wind turbine noise on the surrounding soundscape in the context of greater-prairie chicken courtship vocalizations Whalen, C., Brown, M., McGee, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Noise Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds
Noise Propagation Calculations of a Wind Turbine in Complex Terrain Sessarego, M., Shen, W. Journal Article Wind Energy Noise
High fidelity modeling of pile driving acoustic energy Heaney, K., Seger, K., Halvorsen, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise
Reducing offshore pile driving noise: Modification of the hammer impulse Klages, E., Von Pein, J., Lippert, S. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals
Risk balancing by a marine mammal: man-made noise reduces the foraging success of seals Hastie, G., Lepper, P., McKnight, C. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal Noise Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Impactos Ambientales de la Energía Eólica (Environmental Impacts of the Wind Energy) Hernández-Galvez, G., Pampillón-González, L., Hernández-Almenares, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Physical Environment, Visual Impacts
Using dose–response functions to improve calculations of the impact of anthropogenic noise Tyack, P., Thomas, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy Noise Marine Mammals
Measuring responses of harbour seals to potential aversive acoustic mitigation signals using controlled exposure behavioural response studies Gordon, J., Blight, C., Bryant, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals
Ocean Science Magazine Brown, W., Cluck, R., Cruickshank, W. Magazine Article Noise Physical Environment, Ecosystem Processes
Advanced Environmental Monitoring for Marine Renewable Energy Cotter, E. Thesis Ocean Current, Wave Collision, Noise Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Wind turbine audibility and noise annoyance in a national U.S. survey: Individual perception and influencing factors Haac, T., Kaliski, K., Landis, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Noise Human Dimensions, Visual Impacts
Examining the hearing abilities of fishes Popper, A., Hawkins, A., Sand, O. Journal Article Marine Energy Noise Fish, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Wildlife and Wind Farms - Conflicts and Solutions, Volume 4. Offshore: Monitoring and Mitigation Perrow, M. Book Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Noise Bats, Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
WETS Acoustic Survey Final Report 2019 Sea Engineering Inc Report Marine Energy, Wave Noise Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Effect of Pile-Driving Playback Sound Level on Fish-Catching Efficiency in Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) Kastelein, R., Huijser, L., Cornelisse, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Sound exposure level as a metric for analyzing and managing underwater soundscapes Martin, S., Morris, C., Bröker, C. Journal Article Marine Energy Noise Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Recreation & Tourism
The Dynamic Ocean: Offshore Wind Energy and Other Activities in the New York Bight New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Navigation
Acoustic impact of a wave energy converter in Mediterranean shallow waters Buscaino, G., Mattiazzo, G., Sannino, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Noise Fish
Causes and consequences of intraspecific variation in animal responses to anthropogenic noise Harding, H., Gordon, T., Eastcott, E. Journal Article Noise
Acoustic characterization of sensors used for marine environmental monitoring Cotter, E., Murphy, P., Bassett, C. Journal Article Noise Marine Mammals
Determining the dependence of marine pile driving sound levels on strike energy, pile penetration, and propagation effects using a linear mixed model based on damped cylindrical spreading Martin, S., Barclay, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise
Assessment of Effects of Offshore Wind Energy Facilities on the Marine Environment Müller, A., Juretzek, C., Boethling, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Harnessing the Wind: How to Advance Wind Power Offshore Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, Noise
Determining the impact of pile-driving activity on the spatio-temporal distribution of Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Belgian Part of the North Sea Piesinger, G. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals
A proteomic analysis of the statocyst endolymph in common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis): an assessment of acoustic trauma after exposure to sound Solé, M., Monge, M., André, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy Noise Invertebrates
Harbour porpoise responses to pile-driving diminish over time Graham, I., Merchant, N., Farcas, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Displaying 441 - 480 of 1270 results