Page 48: of Marine Technology Magazine (June 2020)

Academia

Latest research, projects and news from universities, institutions & institutes

Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University: Quiet Oceans Speak Volumes During Shutdown

Research at Dalhousie University shows coastal waters. the distraction and stress we cause, that a quieter ocean—courtesy of the The paper, recently accepted for pub- hunting would become easier, mating current COVID-19 pandemic lockdown— lication in the Journal of the Acoustical more convenient, and wayfnding more can beneft marine life, particularly those Society of America, reported measurable obvious. listed on the endangered species list, like reductions in low-frequency sounds near Sound is for some whales and marine killer whales. major shipping routes between Canada mammals what sight is for humans,” Dr.

David Barclay, an assistant professor and the U.S. Between January and April Barclay emphasizes. in the Department of Oceanography, and of this year, a hydrophone west of Van- PhD student and Royal Canadian Air researchers in his lab took advantage couver Island recorded a 16% (1.5 deci- Force Major Dugald Thomson points of the current lockdown to explore how bels) decrease in noise power compared out that observing the ocean soundscape the underwater soundscape has changed to the same time last year. during “this unique time may provide op- during the pandemic. Oceans Network And, in the usually busy Strait of Geor- portunities to better understand the impact

Canada, a University of Victoria initiative gia, Barclay noticed that not only is the human activity is having on the ocean.” that operates ocean observatories in the ocean getting quieter, but at a faster rate, By analyzing this data over the entirety northeast Pacifc Ocean and the Salish too. of the pandemic, Barclay adds, scientists

Sea, provided hydrophones that allowed The full effects of a quieter ocean are can begin to understand “what exactly

Barclay and his team to analyse the unknown, but they may lead to healthier happens when we turn down the noise in noise environment of British Columbia’s marine mammal populations. “Free from the marine environment.”

Members of

Professor

David Barclay’s lab deploy an underwater acoustic reader. © David Barclay

June 2020 48

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