The Silent Crisis: Tackling Ocean Noise Pollution

Understanding Ocean Noise Pollution and the Role of Rising Tide BioAcoustics Inc.

Ocean noise pollution is a growing problem that is harming the aquatic environment and its resources. Ships, exploring oil and gas under the sea floor, military activities, and construction work like building bridges or ports are the main causes.

Large ship container

Large container ship

Ocean Oil Production Platform

Ocean oil production platform

To show how it looks a bridge during the construction

Bridge construction

Aquatic organisms including marine mammals, fish, and invertebrates depend on sound for their daily life. They use it to find food, communicate, and navigate. But with all the extra noise from human activities, many of these animals are being negatively impacted. Noise pollution can affect the behavior and physiology of many organisms with a wide range of negative impacts including increased stress levels and reduced ability to reproduce, find food and habitat, and avoid danger. In simple terms, the noisier the ocean gets, the harder it is for sea life to survive and thrive. Recent research indicates that even plants are adversely affected by noise pollution.

This is where Rising Tide BioAcoustics Inc. steps in. We are developing a a solution to reduce underwater noise produced by large ships which uses many of the same principles as noise-cancelling headphones. Our system uses what we call very low frequency (VLF) speakers – these are unique tools that can create canceling sounds to quiet down the loud noises from ships and other anthropogenic sound sources.

Our goal is simple: help make the oceans a peaceful place for marine life again. We believe our work is a big step in protecting our oceans and aquatic life.

Exploring the Impact of Ocean Noise Pollution

Ocean noise pollution, a less visible yet critical environmental issue, is increasingly altering the acoustic landscape of our oceans. This phenomenon, driven by various human activities, not only disrupts marine life but also challenges the health of our marine ecosystems. Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean Life

Sources of Ocean Noise Pollution

Shipping

The majority of ocean noise pollution is produced by ships, with the most harmful component being very low-frequency sounds that travel long distances underwater. These sounds stem from engines, propellers, and the hulls moving through water. With over 90% of the world’s trade carried by sea, the sheer number of ships traversing the oceans contributes significantly to the noise levels.

A study referenced on Nature.com highlights that commercial shipping is the dominant source of low-frequency noise in the ocean, with the noise radiated by an individual vessel depending upon the vessel’s speed.

Semantic Scholar further discusses the concerns regarding the effects of underwater noise pollution from shipping. It mentions initiatives to develop quieting technologies for large commercial ships, including the development of non-mandatory technical guidelines by the International Maritime Organization.

75% of shipping noise comes from large container ships and cargo vessels

Seismic Surveys

Seismic air guns

Used primarily for oil and gas exploration, seismic surveys generate loud, intense bursts of sound. These surveys employ airguns that release high-energy sound waves to map the seafloor and identify potential resource deposits. The blasts, which can occur every ten seconds for weeks or months, are among the loudest human-made noises in the oceans.

As stated by The Ocean Conservation Research, seismic airgun surveys are recognized as second only to shipping noise in contributing to overall ocean noise pollution. The intensity of the sound produced by these surveys can cause severe impacts on marine life, including permanent hearing loss, tissue damage, and even death in nearby animals. These surveys have been linked to the mass mortality of species like squid and zooplankton, and the sound pressures generated by a large seismic array can exceed those of nearly any other man-made source.

Construction

Underwater construction activities, including port development, bridge building, and laying pipelines or cables, contribute significantly to ocean noise pollution. One particularly impactful technique is pile driving, which involves hammering large pillars, usually made of steel, wood, or reinforced concrete, into the seabed. This method can take several hours and up to 5,000 strikes to drive a single pile into the seafloor, depending on various factors like the pile’s diameter, the hammer’s size, bottom properties, and required penetration depth. Read more.

Underwater construction activities

Increasing Trends and Global Reach

Ocean noise affecting the polar zones

Ocean noise pollution has been on the rise, paralleling the growth in global shipping and offshore development. Studies have indicated that noise levels in certain parts of the world’s oceans are doubling every decade. This escalation is not just limited to busy shipping lanes or coastal areas but is a global phenomenon, affecting even remote parts of the ocean.

The continuous growth of the maritime industry, along with the expansion of offshore energy activities is expected to further exacerbate this issue. Climate change also plays a role, as melting polar ice opens new shipping routes and accessible areas for resource exploration, introducing noise in previously pristine environments. To learn more.

Statistics and Findings

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported that shipping noise has increased by as much as 32 decibels (more than 8 times increase in loudness and 1000 times increase in energy) in the last 50 years in certain parts of the world, impacting various marine species’ ability to communicate and navigate. This escalation in underwater noise pollution is attributed to intensifying human activities, especially global shipping. The ramifications of this increase are profound, affecting a wide range of marine life from the smallest plankton to the largest whales. These species rely on sound for essential life processes such as feeding, breeding, and navigation.

NOAA’s Ocean Acoustics Program is at the forefront of studying these impacts, focusing on how marine animals use sound and the extent to which human activities alter the underwater soundscape. The organization’s research is pivotal in developing strategies to mitigate these impacts, thereby protecting marine ecosystems and the human livelihoods that depend on them.

​The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) highlights that noise pollution can cause chronic stress in marine animals, leading to impaired immune systems and reproduction rates. They also emphasize the importance of quiet ocean areas as critical habitats for endangered species.

In conclusion, the escalating levels of ocean noise pollution present a formidable challenge to marine life and ecosystems. The increase in noise from shipping, seismic surveys, military activities, and construction has a far-reaching impact, extending from busy shipping lanes to the most remote ocean areas. The evidence from organizations like NOAA, WWF, and others underscores the urgent need for effective measures to mitigate this growing environmental concern. It highlights the significance of innovations like the noise cancellation technologies under development by Rising Tide BioAcoustics Inc., which are vital in our efforts to protect marine habitats and preserve the natural acoustic balance of our oceans.

Rising Tide BioAcoustics’ Role and Revolutionary Technology in Mitigating Ocean Noise

Rising Tide BioAcoustics Inc. is committed to developing technologies that positively impact the marine environment. Our focus includes reducing harmful underwater noise, thereby contributing to the preservation and restoration of natural habitats for marine life.

Active Underwater Noise Cancellation System

At the heart of Rising Tide BioAcoustics Inc.’s efforts is its pioneering Active Underwater Noise Cancellation System, which is currently under development. This cutting-edge system is designed to counteract some of the most disruptive and damaging noises produced by human activities, especially those from shipping. It utilizes principles similar to those in noise-canceling headphones, focusing on the very low-frequency noise that is most harmful to the marine environment. The system will employ one or more canceling speakers and hydrophones to record the noises and monitor acoustic performance, along with a sophisticated cancellation algorithm.

Successful Demonstration and Its Significance

Rising Tide BioAcoustics Inc. achieved a significant milestone with a successful underwater demonstration of its Active Underwater Noise Cancellation System. The system was able to reduce underwater noise levels by over 20 decibels, which is akin to lowering the noise from a vacuum cleaner to that of a quiet living room. This achievement is not just a technical success but also a proof of concept that active noise cancellation can be a viable and effective part of the solution for mitigating ocean noise pollution.

Successful underwater demonstration of our Active Underwater Noise Cancellation System
Photo captured during the successful underwater demonstration
of our Active Underwater Noise Cancellation System.

Ongoing Developments and Future Plans

Continued development will include the design and construction of an operational prototype that will be tested on an underway vessel, as well as development, testing, and evaluation for other applications including ship generator noise (when in port), offshore wind turbines, some types of pile driving, offshore oil and gas drilling and production, and seabed mining.