Acoustic ambient noise in the Barents Sea

Abstract

Recorded observations of acoustic ambient noise in the Western Barents Sea are presented. The observations were made in a position approximately 100 km North of North Cape in Norway, with the hydrophone on the bottom - approximately 370 m deep. Noise was recorded broad-band and in 15 successive third - octave frequency bands with center frequencies from 12,s t o 315 Hz. Noise samples of 3 minutes duration were taken approximately every hour, continuously throughout periods up to 18 months. Time series and spectra are presented. At the low frequencies very large variations are observed, and which are better correlated with the wind than the high frequencies are. Also, very low levels have been observed at the lowest frequencies , which may be of considerable military significance. The observations and auxiliary data have allowed wind-dependent spectra of ambient noise to be established down to 12.5 Hz.