10. Summary

  1. Acoustic modelling has been undertaken to determine distances at which potential effects on marine mammals and fish may occur due to noise from piling activities and other underwater noise generating activities associated with site preparation, construction and operation and maintenance of the Array. Modelling was undertaken for the maximum parameters proposed. The results for piling, which is the dominant noise generating activity, are summarised in Table 10.1   Open ▸ which shows the maximum injury range for each group of mammals and fish, for individual and concurrent piling (the MDS of cumulative SEL or peak), with only the most adverse concurrent piling case shown. The potential PTS impact range is typically dominated by nearest pile, so these ranges do not change for single or concurrent pile driving (except for LF cetaceans where the noise propagates further).
  2. It should be noted that the greatest distance value at which noise levels decrease to below either the cumulative SEL or peak SPL PTS threshold criteria, whichever is the highest, as presented in the Table 10.1   Open ▸ .

 

Table 10.1:
Summary of Potential Maximum PTS Injury Ranges for Marine Mammals, and Mortality for Fish Due to Impact Piling Based on Highest Range of Peak Pressure or SEL (SEL marked with *) Without the Use of ADD

Table 10.1: Summary of Potential Maximum PTS Injury Ranges for Marine Mammals, and Mortality for Fish Due to Impact Piling Based on Highest Range of Peak Pressure or SEL (SEL marked with *) Without the Use of ADD

 

  1. Underwater noise emissions from the wind turbines, pre-construction activities, other relevant operational noises, and vessels during the operations and maintenance phase are unlikely to be at a level sufficient to cause injury to marine mammals or fish. Discussion of disturbance to marine mammals is provided within volume 2, chapter 10.

 

Table 10.2:
Summary of Potential Maximum PTS Injury Ranges for Marine Mammals Due to Impact Piling Based on Highest Range of Peak Pressure or SEL (SEL marked with *) Including the Use of ADD (N/E - Threshold Not Exceeded)

Table 10.2: Summary of Potential Maximum PTS Injury Ranges for Marine Mammals Due to Impact Piling Based on Highest Range of Peak Pressure or SEL (SEL marked with *) Including the Use of ADD (N/E - Threshold Not Exceeded)

 

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[1] The integration time and T90 window are often not reported, particularly in some older studies, meaning that it is often difficult to compare reported rms noise pressure levels between studies.

[2] Historically, rms and peak SPL metrics were used for assessing potential effects of noise on marine species. However, SEL is increasingly being used as it allows exposure duration and the effect of exposure to multiple events to be considered. 

[3] It is worth noting that hearing thresholds are sometimes shown as audiograms with noise level on the y axis rather than sensitivity, resulting in the graph shape being the inverse of the graph shown.

[4] There are two definitions for third octave bands, one using a base 2 and the other using base 10, also known as a decidecade. The frequency ratio corresponding to a decidecade is smaller than a one-third octave (base 2) by approximately 0.08% (ISO, 2017).

[5] A distributed source in this context refers to either a combination of two or more smaller sources, or a large source which cannot be treated as a point or monopole source.

[6] The understanding of how masking occurs and what the implications may be for individual species and populations is an area of active research efforts.

[7] Dose-response relationships describe the magnitude of the response of an organism, as a function of exposure to a stimulus or stressor after a certain exposure time.

[8] Based on an analysis of the time history graph in Lucke et al. (2007), the T90 period is estimated to be approximately 8 ms, resulting in a correction of 21 dB applied to the SEL to derive the rmsT90 noise pressure level. However, the T90 was not directly reported in the paper.

[9] Guideline exposure criteria for seismic surveys, continuous noise and naval sonar are also presented though are not applicable to this project.

[10] It should be noted that the presence of a swim bladder does not necessarily mean that the fish can detect pressure. Some fish have swim bladders that are not involved in the hearing mechanism and can only detect particle motion.

[11] Acoustically, shallow water conditions exist whenever the propagation is characterised by multiple reflections with both the sea surface and bottom (Etter, 2013). Consequently, the depth at which water can be classified as acoustically deep or shallow depends upon numerous factors including the noise speed gradient, water depth, frequency of the noise and distance between the source and receiver.

[12] Latitude 56.625 Longitude -0.375

[13] Note that the central location is used only for the concurrent modelling of disturbance and does not form part of the injury range results. The concurrent scenarios are central with the North point; and central with the South point.

[14] Recordings incorporate both noise from mooring lines and from turbines.