Soundscape of Arctic settlements: Longyearbyen and Pyramiden

Abstract

This paper presents the soundscape analysis of two settlements in Spitsbergen in Svalbard archipelago. The first one is the largest settlement in Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen, with population of about 2000 people. It is the administrative center of Svalbard with airport and the seat of Governor of Svalbard. The second one, Pyramiden, is Russian, coal-mining settlement closed in 1998. Since 2007 Pyramiden has become the tourist attraction with hotel and small museum. Only a few workers live there permanently. Two one-week research expeditions were organized to perform preliminary Arctic soundscape measurements. First, summer expedition during polar day and second winter-spring expedition during the transition period between the polar night and polar day. Long and short term sound pressure level measurements together with the ambisonic recordings of unique and typical sounds were made. Both qualitative assessment and quantitative analysis of the results were carried out. The identification and classification of the existing sound sources were conducted. Furthermore, noise maps of both places together with the comparative analysis were performed.