Passive acoustic monitoring recorders were deployed off the coast of Virginia to collect two years of acoustic data from 2015 - 2017 to determine the acoustic presence of four focal whale species: North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). Previously collected acoustic data from 2012, 2013 and 2015 supplemented the dataset and both seasonal and annual trends in temporal and spatial distribution were found for all four species of baleen whales. Baseline ambient noise measurements were analyzed to provide context for potential risks to whales associated with the construction and development in the offshore wind energy area. In addition, spatial and temporal trends in odontocete presence were analyzed. Offshore wind energy development in coastal Virginia waters may pose risks to marine mammals that use the habitat, both through acute risks of ship-strikes or construction-related activities such as pile driving, and chronic risks from increased exposure to noise. Passive acoustic monitoring can provide insight into the spatial and temporal distribution of whale species in the study area and can characterize the baseline ambient noise of the environment to assess potential risks to marine mammals.

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

This record represents the raw passive acoustic data collected from Atlantic Deepwater Ecosystem Observatory Network (ADEON) for the U.S. Mid- and South Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) which was developed and deployed in November of 2017. This observatory network will generate long-term measurements of both the natural and human factors active in this region, thus informing the ecology and soundscape of the OCS. These data will provide further a mechanistic understanding of the cumulative impacts these factors have on marine resources and provide insight for ecosystem-based management efforts. Long-term observations of living marine resources and marine sound will assist Federal agencies, including BOEM, ONR, and NOAA, in complying with mandates in the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA).

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.

The North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP) is evaluating the feasibility of extracting energy from the Gulf Stream off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA. Characterizing the soundscape in this region is one of the environmental and ecological assessment goals of the program. To accomplish this, the UNC Coastal Studies Institute deploys a mooring on the continental slope off Cape Hatteras. The mooring is equipped with a hydrophone, a CTD, and an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). To request ancillary data (CTD, ADCP), contact Dr. Lindsay Dubbs.

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

The collection and analysis of passive acoustic data supports research into the soundscape of marine environments. Primary uses include detecting and characterizing sounds produced and used by living marine resources, natural sources of noise from physical oceanographic processes, and anthropogenic noise sources that contribute to the overall ocean noise environment. This analysis supports a wide range of activities including marine mammal stock assessments, monitoring of earthquake and geological activity, and assessing impacts of anthropogenic noise on marine life. The goal of this collection is to steward an accessible national archive of passive acoustic data available to researchers and the public, and to assist NOAA in meeting their data management and accessibility requirements.

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. These DCLDE 2018 workshop datasets were provided by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. They consist of acoustic recordings from multiple deployments of high-frequency acoustic recording packages deployed in the Western North Atlantic (US EEZ) and Gulf of Mexico. Separate sets of development data are provided for mysticetes and odontocetes. The mysticete data have been decimated to 1 kHz bandwidth (2 kHz sample rate) and the odontocete data have 100 kHz of bandwidth (200 kHz sample rate). Data were selected to cover multiple seasons and locations while providing high species diversity and call counts.

Glacier Bay National Park is conducting underwater passive acoustic monitoring to characterize the underwater sound environment including weather generated sounds, biologics, and vessel noise, for the purpose of basic science as well as management applications. The data are collected using a calibrated ITC type 8215A broadband omnidirectional hydrophone with a nominal sensitivity -174 dB re 1 volt per 1 micropascal (Gavial ITC Inc., Santa Barbara, CA, USA) mounted on an anchoring tripod 1 m above the seafloor (30.2 m depth). A 5-mile cable runs from the hydrophone back to a computer at Park headquarters where automated samples are collected and real-time audio is broadcast on a speaker.

This record represents the raw passive acoustic data collected from the NOAA-Navy Sanctuary Soundscapes Monitoring Project (SanctSound). NOAA and the U.S. Navy are working to better understand underwater sound within the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary System. From 2018 to 2021, these agencies collected passive acoustic data to study sound at 30 recording sites within seven national marine sanctuaries and one marine national monument, which includes waters off Hawai'i and the east and west coasts.