Underwater acoustic measurements and simulations from air-gun array of R/V Marcus G. Langseth in TAIGER experiment in the west coast of Taiwan

Abstract

The high-level noise produced by air-gun array of R/V Marcus G. Langseth was highly possible to impact on marine mammals. However, the west coast of Taiwan is the habitat of many marine mammals, so the environmental impact of the air-gun array noise is extensively concerned. The source level and beam-pattern of the air-gun array have been estimated by the previous study in the east coast of Taiwan. According to the known source level and beam-pattern, sound pressure level can be calculated and compared with the measured data from the air-gun array in the west coast of Taiwan. This study may be taken as a reference to understand the sound propagation and impacts on marine mammals in the west coast of Taiwan. (Sponsored by National Science Council of Republic of China under project “Noise Monitor of TAiwan Integrated GEodynamics Research (TAIGER) Experiment – Middle Section of Taiwan West Coast” No. NSC98-2119-M-110-002)