Accession Number:

ADA561707

Title:

Criteria and Thresholds for U.S. Navy Acoustic and Explosive Effects Analysis

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.

Corporate Author:

SPACE AND NAVAL WARFARE SYSTEMS CENTER PACIFIC SAN DIEGO CA

Personal Author(s):

• Finneran, J. J.
• Jenkins, A. K.

Report Date:

2012-04-01

Pagination or Media Count:

65.0

Abstract:

The U.S. Navy is required to assess the potential impacts to marine species from training and testing activities to remain in compliance with a suite of Federal environmental laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act. In cases where these activities introduce high-levels of sound or explosive energy into the marine environment, an effects analysis must be conducted. The acoustic effects analysis begins with mathematical modeling to predict the sound transmission patterns from Navy sources. These data are then coupled with marine species distribution and abundance data to determine the sound levels likely to be received by various marine species. Finally, criteria and thresholds are applied to estimate the specific effects that animals exposed to Navy-generated sound may experience.

Descriptors:

• *AQUATIC ANIMALS
• *EXPLOSION EFFECTS
• ACOUSTICS
• ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
• ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• OCEAN ENVIRONMENTS
• PROTECTION
• SOUND ANALYZERS
• SOUND TRANSMISSION
• TRAINING

Subject Categories:

• Biology
• Explosions

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE