The project collected three years of baseline data 12 - 60 km offshore of Maryland prior to construction and operation of an offshore wind energy facility. Two main types of sound recording devices that encompassed a range of frequencies were used to detect vocalizations from baleen whales (low frequencies) and toothed whales (high frequencies): the Marine Autonomous Recording Unit (MARU, or pop-up) sampling at 2 kHz and the C-POD (cetacean click detector), which monitors the 20 - 160 kHz frequency range. These were supplemented by additional acoustic recorders during select periods of the study at five sites to provide further information on mid-frequency sounds, such as dolphin whistling behavior. The use of a grid array design for the acoustic detection devices within the Maryland WEA facilitated localization of vocalizing whales to further understand spatial patterns of habitat usage. RESULTS: There is substantial overlap between marine mammals and the Maryland WEA, but this varies seasonally. While the risk to endangered whales is lowest during the summer, the risk to bottlenose dolphins may be highest at this time, as they are most abundant in the summer time. The year-round occurrence of marine mammals offshore of Maryland will require decision-makers to consider the trade-off of the potential impacts

To understand natural and anthropogenic sound in the ocean, and to compare underwater soundscapes globally, standard methods of analysis must be applied to passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data. Methods that balance constrained volume and adequate resolution of acoustic spectra have recently been published (Martin et al., 2021a,b). These records are the results of this standardized analysis of PAM data, specifically calculation of hybrid millidecade (HMD) sound pressure levels derived from calibrated passive acoustic data from a long-term monitoring effort in the U.S. national marine sanctuary system. Daily HMD at 1 minute resolution were created using PyPAM software v0.2.0.

This record represents the raw passive acoustic data collected by NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) Sound Monitoring Program. ONMS maintains a nationally coordinated underwater sound monitoring network across the National Marine Sanctuary System. We work with partners to study sound within ten existing and two proposed national marine sanctuaries off the US East Coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, off the West Coast and in the Pacific Islands region.The ONMS Sound network supports the program's understanding and protection of sanctuaries including restoration efforts, effectiveness of and compliance with regulations, quantifying sanctuary usages and assessing human impacts

To understand natural and anthropogenic sound in the ocean, and to compare underwater soundscapes globally, standard methods of analysis must be applied to passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data. Methods that balance constrained volume and adequate resolution of acoustic spectra have recently been published (Martin et al., 2021a,b). A community effort supported by NOAA, BOEM, U.S. Navy, and ONR was initiated to apply these methods to PAM datasets from around the world. These records are hybrid millidecade (HMD) spectra of sound levels derived from calibrated passive acoustic data. Daily HMD at 1 minute resolution were created using standalone MANTA software (v9.6.11).

ADRIFT in the California Current uses passive acoustic drifting buoys to study ocean sound in the California Current Ecosystem. These autonomous buoys drift with currents and are tracked via satellite messenger. Data collected through the ADRIFT project will be used to assess noise levels and seasonal marine mammal acoustic presence in the California Current.

DCLDE Workshops are intended for exchanging information that advances our understanding of acoustic methods to detect, classify, locate, track, count, and monitor marine mammals in their natural environment. The goal is to encourage interdisciplinary approaches to solve real-world problems related to the study of marine mammals and the effects of human activities. The DCLDE 2015 dataset consists of data from multiple deployments of high-frequency acoustic recording packages deployed in the Southern California Bight. Separate sets of development data are provided for mysticetes and odontocetes. The mysticete data have been decimated to 1 and 1.6 kHz bandwidth and the odontocete data bandwidth consists of data with 100 and 160 kHz of bandwidth. Data were selected to cover all four seasons and from multiple locations. High-frequency datasets consist of annotated data from multiple odontocete species. Included is Baird’s beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris), Sperm whale (Physeter macrorhynchus), Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus), unspecified porpoise (Phocoenidae), and odontocete other than those described above (Odontoceti). The goal for this dataset is to identify acoustic encounters of a species during times when animals were echolocating. Low-frequency datasets consist of annotated data for specific calls from two mysticete species, blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) D calls and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 40 Hz calls. The goal for this dataset is to identify specific blue whale D and fin whale 40 Hz calls.

To understand natural and anthropogenic sound in the ocean, and to compare underwater soundscapes globally, standard methods of analysis must be applied to passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data. Methods that balance constrained volume and adequate resolution of acoustic spectra have recently been published (Martin et al., 2021a,b). A community effort supported by NOAA, BOEM, U.S. Navy, and ONR was initiated to apply these methods to PAM datasets from around the world. These records are hybrid millidecade (HMD) spectra of sound levels derived from calibrated passive acoustic data. Daily HMD at 1 minute resolution were created using standalone MANTA software.

To understand natural and anthropogenic sound in the ocean, and to compare underwater soundscapes globally, standard methods of analysis must be applied to passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data. Methods that balance constrained volume and adequate resolution of acoustic spectra have recently been published (Martin et al., 2021a,b). A community effort supported by NOAA, BOEM, U.S. Navy, and ONR was initiated to apply these methods to PAM datasets from around the world. These records are hybrid millidecade (HMD) spectra of sound levels derived from calibrated passive acoustic data. Daily HMD at 1 minute resolution were created using standalone MANTA software (v9.6.11).

These data were collected from March 28 to April 24, 2021, at Platform Hermosa as part of a larger rffort to characterize the sound from mechanical conductor cutting activities

To understand natural and anthropogenic sound in the ocean, and to compare underwater soundscapes globally, standard methods of analysis must be applied to passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data. Methods that balance constrained volume and adequate resolution of acoustic spectra have recently been published (Martin et al., 2021a,b). A community effort supported by NOAA, BOEM, U.S. Navy, and ONR was initiated to apply these methods to PAM datasets from around the world. These records are hybrid millidecade (HMD) spectra of sound levels derived from calibrated passive acoustic data. Daily HMD at 1 minute resolution were created using standalone MANTA software (v9.6.12) from audio data recorded at BOEM-Cornell sites.