Numerical investigation of shipping noise in the Red Sea

Abstract

Underwater noise pollution is a significant environmental issue that can have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems. One of the main sources of underwater noise pollution is ship traffic, which has been shown to negatively impact marine animals by masking communication signals and altering their behaviors. This study represents the first comprehensive analysis of underwater ship noise in the Red Sea. It aims to generate noise maps of ships sailing through the main shipping lane in the Red Sea. The Range-dependentAcoustic Model (RAM), incorporating anthropogenic and environmental inputs, was utilized to predict maps of underwater ship noises. The application of RAM yielded maps showcasing the spatial and temporal distribution of underwater ship noise in the Red Sea, providing valuable insights for policy makers and facilitating targeted mitigation efforts, with implications for future research on the impacts of underwater noise pollution on marine life.