Exploring ocean ecosystems and dynamics through sound

Abstract

Acoustic signals propagate long distances in the ocean and provide a means for marine life and humans to gain information about the environment and for marine animals to exchange critical information. Innovation in underwater acoustic technology now permits the remote monitoring of marine life and the environment without the need to rely on human observers, the physical presence of an observation vessel, or adequate visibility and sampling conditions. Passive recordings of the underwater soundscape provide information to better understand the influence of environmental parameters on local acoustic processes, to assess habitat quality and health, and to better understand the risks of ocean noise on marine life. Active acoustic technology provides a high-resolution measure of biological and physical oceanographic processes through time series of backscatter measurements. The ability to obtain passive and active acoustic measurements contemporaneously, along with ancillary data to validate and enhance interpretations, is a powerful tool facilitating insight into ocean and ecosystem dynamics. Knowledge gained and questions raised from the integration of acoustic and oceanographic data in rapidly changing environments will be shared, along with a preview of the Atlantic Deepwater Ecosystem Observatory Network (ADEON) program being launched off the South Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.