Can you hear me now?

Construction noise and marine mammals.

With new carbon reduction schemes being implemented, growth of offshore wind generation is expected to become a major component of these reduction strategies. With increased construction; the noise of pile driving into the ocean to install these turbines is increasing. Researchers are worried that this noise will have a negative impacts on marine mammal species.

Researchers from the United Kingdom and the United States have developed a noise assessment method for measuring the impact of wind farm construction. Previous attention mainly focused on the effects of the turbines on birds. The new focus in on the long term impact on marine mammals; especially endangered whale populations, dolphins and seals. The study is looking at “worst case assessment of the short term impacts of noise and how these may influence long term population change” (S.D., 2013). 

Loud construction can cause traumatic hearing injuries or close range deaths. This could move animals out of their normal ranges and impact food resources and survival rates. 

To read about the full study and methodologies, see the article reference below.

Reference:

 (S.D.) Science Daily, 2013. Assessing Noise Impact of Offshore Wind Farm Construction May Help Protect Marine Mammals. Online. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131104101242.htm

 

Paul M. Thompson, Gordon D. Hastie, Jeremy Nedwell, Richard Barham, Kate L. Brookes, Line S. Cordes, Helen Bailey, Nancy McLean. Framework for assessing impacts of pile-driving noise from offshore wind farm construction on a harbour seal population. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2013; 43: 73

Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windmills_D1-D4_%28Thornton_Bank%29.jpg