Abstract

The data recording of underwater noise is a key aspect for the prevention and improvement of management systems of maritime spaces. Thus, due to the presence of activities potentially generating impulsive noise, ports deserve special attention. This article describes and shows the results of the spatial monitoring of both the basal noise and impulsive noise sources present in port facilities. A vessel was equipped with a smart digital hydrophone with a working frequency range between 10 and 200 kHz and an RVR (Received Voltage Response) of, approximately, −170 dB @ 1 V/µPa. Coupling the acoustic data together with the GPS coordinates of the vessel, a GIS map with spatiotemporal distribution of the basal sound pressure levels was made, identifying the sources of impulsive noise of interest and its temporal characteristics. This is a preliminary step for the development of future studies on underwater noise pollution and its potential impact on biodiversity in the environment of port facilities, with the maximum guarantees possible.

Highlights

  • One of the main sources of underwater noise is shipping traffic, with the highest levels of ambient noise concentrated in ports due to the continuous traffic of vessels

  • The objective of this work is to perform an acoustic characterization of impulsive underwater noises that may be present in the Port of Cartagena

  • The recorded sound pressure levels (SPL) have an average of 62 dB with variations of ±18 dB

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Summary

Introduction

One of the main sources of underwater noise is shipping traffic, with the highest levels of ambient noise concentrated in ports due to the continuous traffic of vessels. The objective of this work is to perform an acoustic characterization of impulsive underwater noises that may be present in the Port of Cartagena. As shown below, a series of underwater acoustic measurements of the bay are made With these results, we have a first estimate of the basal noise in the Port of Cartagena that we can take as a basis for the study of continuous and impulsive noise sources. Only one source of impulsive noise was found This was due to the process of loading sea containers on a freight ship moored in the eastern part of the Port of Cartagena (Figure 4, left). A study of the spectrogram shows the levels and periodicity of these impulses

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