6 Conclusions and next steps

This methodology note has set out the approach that is proposed for modelling subsea noise for Ossian, including:

  • Proposed injury and disturbance thresholds, which are based on the latest scientific consensus and peer reviewed papers;
  • Pile source level determination methodology, which is based on a peer reviewed method taking into account pile parameters, including pile diameter, pile length, pile penetration depth, water depth, rated maximum hammer energy of the proposed hammer, hammer energy being used, ram mass for the hammer and acoustical parameters of the seabed soil and water.
  • Sound propagation modelling methodology, which is based on a peer reviewed method which has been used for modelling of several offshore wind farm developments, including in Scotland, and
  • Sound exposure calculation methodology, including the proposed swim speeds, hearing weightings and metrics, all of which are based on the latest scientific evidence.

Proposed next steps in terms of stakeholder engagement on the underwater noise modelling methodology are as follows:

  • Stakeholders are requested to review this methodology note and provide any clarification questions or concerns prior to the next meeting.
  • RPS and Seiche will then respond to any questions either during the meeting or by issuing a further clarification note.
  • Assuming agreement with the approach is reached and any clarifications have been closed out, it is expected that the formal MS-LOT Scoping Opinion will include a relevant statement with regards to the agreed approach.

Agreement with the approach is to be ideally reached before the modelling commences.

 

7 References

Bailey, Helen, Bridget Senior, Dave Simmons, Jan Rusin, Gordon Picken, and Paul M. Thompson. (2010) ‘Assessing Underwater Noise Levels during Pile-Driving at an Offshore Windfarm and Its Potential Effects on Marine Mammals’. Marine Pollution Bulletin 60 (6): 888–97.

Benda-Beckmann, A. M. von, D. R. Ketten, F. P. A. Lam, C. A. F. de Jong, R. A. J. Müller, and R. A. Kastelein. (2022) ‘Evaluation of Kurtosis-Corrected Sound Exposure Level as a Metric for Predicting Onset of Hearing Threshold Shifts in Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena Phocoena)’. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 152 (1): 295–301.

Boisseau, Oliver, Tessa McGarry, Simon Stephenson, Ross Compton, Anna-Christina Cucknell, Conor Ryan, Richard McLanaghan, and Anna Moscrop. (2021) ‘Minke Whales Balaenoptera Acutorostrata Avoid a 15 KHz Acoustic Deterrent Device (ADD)’. Marine Ecology Progress Series 667: 191–206.

Brandt, Miriam J., Ansgar Diederichs, Klaus Betke, and Georg Nehls. (2011) ‘Responses of Harbour Porpoises to Pile Driving at the Horns Rev II Offshore Wind Farm in the Danish North Sea’. Marine Ecology Progress Series 421: 205–16.

Dekeling, R. P. A., M. L. Tasker, A. J. Van der Graaf, M. A. Ainslie, M. H. Andersson, M. André, J. F. Borsani, K. Brensing, M. Castellote, and D. Cronin. (2014) ‘Monitoring Guidance for Underwater Noise in European Seas, Part II: Monitoring Guidance Specifications. A Guidance Document within the Common Implementation Strategy for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive by MSFD Technical Subgroup on Underwater Noise.’

Farcas, Adrian, Paul M. Thompson, and Nathan D. Merchant. (2016) ‘Underwater Noise Modelling for Environmental Impact Assessment’. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 57: 114–22.

Graham, Isla M., Nathan D. Merchant, Adrian Farcas, Tim R. Barton, Barbara Cheney, Saliza Bono, and Paul M. Thompson. (2019) ‘Harbour Porpoise Responses to Pile-Driving Diminish over Time’. Royal Society Open Science 6 (6): 190335.

Lippert, Stephan, Marco Huisman, Marcel Ruhnau, Otto von Estorff, and K. van Zandwijk. 2017. “Prognosis of Underwater Pile Driving Noise for Submerged Skirt Piles of Jacket Structures.” In 4th Underwater Acoustics Conference and Exhibition (UACE 2017), Skiathos, Greece.

Lippert, Tristan, Marta Galindo-Romero, Alexander N. Gavrilov, and Otto von Estorff. 2015. “Empirical Estimation of Peak Pressure Level from Sound Exposure Level. Part II: Offshore Impact Pile Driving Noise.” The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 138 (3): EL287–92.

Otani, Seiji, Yasuhiko Naito, Akiko Kato, and Akito Kawamura. (2000) ‘Diving Behavior And Swimming Speed of a Free-Ranging Harbor Porpoise, Phocoena Phocoena’. Marine Mammal Science 16 (4): 811–14.

Popper, Arthur N., Anthony D. Hawkins, Richard R. Fay, David A. Mann, Soraya Bartol, Thomas J. Carlson, Sheryl Coombs, et al. (2014) ASA S3/SC1.4 TR-2014 Sound Exposure Guidelines for Fishes and Sea Turtles: A Technical Report Prepared by ANSI-Accredited Standards Committee S3/SC1 and Registered with ANSI. Springer.

Popper, A.N. and Hawkins, A.D. (2016). The Effects of Noise on Acquatic Life, II. Springer Science+Business Media. New York, NY.

Richardson, William John, Denis H. Thomson, Charles R. Greene, Jr., and Charles I. Malme. (1995) Marine Mammals and Noise. Academic Press.

Sims, David W., Colin D. Speedie, and Adrian M. Fox. (2000) ‘Movements and Growth of a Female Basking Shark Re-Sighted after a Three Year Period’. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 80 (6): 1141–42.

Southall, Brandon L., James J. Finneran, Colleen Reichmuth, Paul E. Nachtigall, Darlene R. Ketten, Ann E. Bowles, William T. Ellison, Douglas P. Nowacek, and Peter L. Tyack. (2019) ‘Marine Mammal Noise Exposure Criteria: Updated Scientific Recommendations for Residual Hearing Effects’. Aquatic Mammals 45 (2): 125–232.

Thompson, D., A. Brownlow, J. Onoufriou, and S. Moss. (2015) ‘Collision Risk and Impact Study: Field Tests of Turbine Blade-Seal Carcass Collisions’. Report to Scottish Government MR 7 (3): 1–16.

von Pein, Jonas, Tristan Lippert, Stephan Lippert, and Otto von Estorff. 2022. “Scaling Laws for Unmitigated Pile Driving: Dependence of Underwater Noise on Strike Energy, Pile Diameter, Ram Weight, and Water Depth.” Applied Acoustics 198: 108986.

Weston, D. E. (1971) ‘Intensity-Range Relations in Oceanographic Acoustics’. Journal of Sound and Vibration 18 (2): 271–87.

Weston, D. E. (1980a) ‘Acoustic Flux Formulas for Range-Dependent Ocean Ducts’. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 68 (1): 269–81.

Weston, D. E. (1980b) ‘Acoustic Flux Methods for Oceanic Guided Waves’. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 68 (1): 287–96.

Whyte, K., Russell, D., Sparling, C., Binnerts, B. and Hastie, G. (2020). Estimating the effects of pile driving sounds on seals: Pitfalls and possibilities. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.