MARINE MAMMALS AND THE EFFECTS OF NOISE: FACTS ABOUT ACOUSTIC SIGNALS AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF HUMAN SOUND SOURCES

Both natural and human-generated sounds fill the marine environment. Biological processes generate natural sound such as wind, rain, and waves. Humans intentionally produce sound when using sonar or conducting seismic surveys as tools to visualize the underwater world. They produce sound unintentionally through oil and gas exploration and extraction, ocean experiments, and shipping. As sound increases in the ocean, scientists and the general public become increasingly concerned about the potential impact of sound on marine mammals. With these concerns in mind, I undertook a project to provide public outreach and education by producing a brochure for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE), and the Marine Mammal Commission (MMC) to distribute during their series of public lectures around the United States to increase public knowledge about human-generated noise and marine animals.