Glacier National Park 2019 Ambient Sound Study

Noise pollution is becoming a greater threat throughout the world as both population and levels of man-made sounds increase. The goal of this project was to determine ambient sound levels at strategic locations in Glacier National Park. This data was compared to a baseline study completed in 2004 through careful analysis to determine the current state of noise in the park, causes of noise, and strategies for managing it. Using modern technology and methods derived from previous studies, it was determined that the overall natural soundscape of the park has remained similar since 2004. However, situational noise was determined at multiple locations, masking much of the natural soundscape. If the data collection period was extended, we believe the situational noise would become insignificant