Sound 101: An introduction to why underwater noise is an emerging conservation concern

As sound travels much more efficiently in water than it does in air, most marine animals use sound in much the way that terrestrial animals use vision- to detect predators and/or prey, to communicate, and to navigate- thus underwater noise can significantly impact their survival. This presentation is intended to supply background information for those who know relatively little about underwater sound, the differences between sound propagation in water relative to sound in air, sound metrics, particle motion, and some of the more common sources of underwater anthropogenic noise that impact marine animals in the Salish Sea. Sources include various types of vessels, pile-driving and other types of construction, and commercial and military sonars. Impacts range from disturbance, acoustic masking and physiological effects to mortality. This presentation will set the stage for subsequent, more specific talks on underwater noise and highlight some of the more recent discoveries of how noise impacts marine animals, from invertebrates to whales