Directional detection of simulated whale calls and ambient noise in a busy harbour

Abstract

Timely information on marine mammal presence in, or near, sonar training areas can be used to minimize the risk of harming these animals. Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) has recently been investigating a variety of acoustic technologies to facilitate real-time marine mammal monitoring in high noise (including ship noise and sonar signals) environments. DRDC assessed the directional detection and localization capability of a network of sub-surface volumetric and vertical line arrays against the noisy backdrop of the busy harbour during an experiment conducted in Bedford Basin, NS. Playbacks of Southern Resident killer whale calls and North Atlantic right whale upcalls, as well as simulated calls, were transmitted. To assess variability in bearing estimates for whale calls in different frequency bands, an acoustic source was fixed at a single location for half of the experiment and dipped over the side of a boat at seven locations around the recorders during the other half. During this talk, ambient noise and environmental measurements will be presented along with acoustic localization results.