Anthropogenic noise in the oceans is disturbing marine life. Among other groups, pelagic fish are likely to be affected by sound from human activities, but so far have received relatively little attention. Offshore wind farms have become numerous and will become even more abundant in the next decades. Wind farms can be interesting to pelagic fish due to food abundance or fisheries restrictions. At the same time, construction of wind farms involves high levels of anthropogenic noise, likely disturbing and/or deterring pelagic fish. Here, we investigated whether bottom-moored echosounders are a suitable tool for studying the effects of impulsive – intermittent, high-intensity – anthropogenic noise on pelagic fish around wind farms and we explored the possible nature of their responses. Three different wind farms along the Dutch and Belgian coast were examined, one with exposure to the passing by of an experimental seismic survey with a full-scale airgun array, one with pile driving activity in an adjacent wind farm construction site and one control site without exposure. Two bottom-moored echosounders were placed in each wind farm and recorded fish presence and behaviour before, during and after the exposures. The echosounders were successful in detecting variation in the number of fish schools and their behaviour. During the seismic survey exposure there were significantly fewer, but more cohesive, schools than before, whereas during pile driving fish swam shallower with more cohesive schools. However, the types and magnitudes of response patterns were also observed at the control site with no impulsive sound exposure. We therefore stress the need for thorough replication beyond single case studies, before we can conclude that impulsive sounds, from either seismic surveys or pile driving, are a disturbing factor for pelagic fish in otherwise attractive habitat around wind farms.

Effective measures for protecting and preserving the marine environment require an understanding of the potential impact of anthropogenic sound on marine life. A crucial component is a proper assessment of the anthropogenic soundscape: which sounds are present where, when and how strong? We provide an extensive case study modelling the spatial, temporal and spectral distribution of sound radiated by several anthropogenic sources (ships, seismic airguns, explosives) and a naturally occurring one (wind) in the Dutch North Sea. We present the results as a series of sound maps covering the whole of the Dutch North Sea, showing the spatial and temporal distribution of the energy from these sources. Averaged over a two year period, shipping is responsible for the largest amount of acoustic energy (∼1800 J), followed by seismic surveys (∼300 J), explosions (∼20 J) and wind (∼20 J) in the frequency band between 100 Hz and 100 kHz. Our study shows that anthropogenic sources are responsible for 100 times more acoustic energy (averaged over 2 years) in the Dutch North Sea than naturally occurring sound from wind. The potential impact of these sounds on aquatic animals depends not only on these temporally averaged and spatially integrated broadband energies, but also on the source-specific spatial, spectral and temporal variation. Shipping is dominant in the southern part and along the coast in the north, throughout the years and across the spectrum. Seismic surveys are relatively local and spatially and temporally dependent on exploration activities in any particular year, and spectrally shifted to low frequencies relative to the other sources. Explosions in the southern part contribute wide-extent high energy bursts across the spectrum. Relating modelled sound fields to the temporal and spatial distribution of animal species may provide a powerful tool for understanding the potential impact of anthropogenic sound on marine life.

Anthropogenic aquatic noise is recognised as an environmental pollutant with the potential to negatively affect marine organisms. Seismic surveys, used to explore subseafloor oil reserves, are a common source of aquatic noise that have garnered attention due to their intense low frequency inputs and their frequent spatial overlap with coastal fisheries. Commercially important Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) adults have previously shown sensitivity to signals from a single seismic air gun. Here, the sensitivity of J. edwardsii juveniles and puerulus to the signals of a full-scale seismic survey were evaluated to determine if early developmental stages were affected similarly to adults, and the range of impact. To quantify impact, lobster mortality rates, dorsoventral righting reflex and progression through moult cycle were evaluated following exposure. Exposure did not result in mortality in either developmental stage, however, air gun signals caused righting impairment to at least 500 m in lobsters sampled immediately following exposure, as had previously been reported in adults with corresponding sensory system damage following exposure. Impairment resulting from close range (0 m) exposure appeared to be persistent, as previously reported in adults, whereas juveniles exposed at a more distant range (500 m) showed recovery, indicating that exposure at a range of 500 m may not cause lasting impairment to righting. Intermoult duration was (time between moults) significantly increased in juveniles exposed at 0 m from the source, indicating the potential for slowed development, growth, and physiological stress. These results demonstrate that exposure to seismic air gun signals have the potential to negatively impact early life history stages of Southern Rock Lobsters. The similarity of both the impacts and the sound exposure levels observed here compared to previous exposure using a single air gun offer validation for the approach, which opens the potential for accessible field-based experimental work into the impact of seismic surveys on marine invertebrates.

Perennial contaminated groundwater seepage is threatening the downstream ecosystem of the Kazipally Pharmaceutical industrial area located in South India. The sources of seepage are unknown for the last three decades that challenging the regulatory authorities and industries. In general, water quality monitoring and geophysical techniques are applied to identify the sources. However, these techniques may lead to ambiguous results and fail to identify the seepage sources, especially when the area is urbanized/paved, and groundwater is already contaminated with other leakage sources that have similar chemical compounds. In the present study, a novel and multidisciplinary approach were adopted that includes satellite-based Land Surface Temperature (LST) observations, field-based Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), continuous Soil Electrical Conductivity (SEC) and Volumetric Soil Moisture (VSM%) measurements along with groundwater levels monitoring to identify the sources and to control the seepage. The integrated results identified that the locations with the Standard Thermal Anomaly (STA) in the range of −0.5 to -1 °C, VSM% >50%, SEC > 1.5 mS/cm, bulk resistivity < 12 Ω m with shallow groundwater levels < 3 m below ground level (bgl) are potentially contaminated perennial seepage sources. Impermeable sheet piles have been installed across the groundwater flow direction to control the seepage up to 1.5 m bgl, where groundwater frequently intercepts land surface. The quantity of dry season groundwater seepage has been declined by 79.2% after these interventions, which in turn minimized the treatment cost of 1,96,283 USD/year and improved the downstream ecosystem.

Staotcysts, the mechanosensory organs common to many marine invertebrates, have shown sensitivity to aquatic noise. Previously, rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii) from a remote site with little exposure to anthropogenic noise incurred persistent damage to the statocyst and righting reflex following exposure to seismic air gun signals. Here, J. edwardsii collected from a site subject to high levels of anthropogenic noise were exposed to an equivalent seismic air gun signal regime as the previous study of noise-naïve lobsters. Following exposure, both control and exposed treatments were found to have damage to the statocyst equivalent to that of noise-naïve lobsters following seismic exposure, which led to the conclusion that the damage was pre-existing and not exacerbated by seismic exposure. The source of the damage in the lobsters in this study could not be ascertained, but the soundscape comparisons of the collection sites showed that the noisy site had a 5–10 dB greater level of noise, equivalent to a 3–10 times greater intensity, in the 10–700 Hz range than was found at the remote collection site. In addition to the lack of further damage following seismic exposure, no disruption to the righting reflex was observed. Indeed, compared to the noise naïve lobsters, the lobsters here demonstrated an ability to cope with or adapt to the mechanosensory damage, indicating a need for better understanding of the ecological impacts of the damage caused by low frequency noise on marine organisms. More broadly, this study raises historical exposure to noise as a previously unrecognised but vitally important consideration for studies of aquatic noise.

Anthropogenic sound can affect fish behaviour and physiology which may affect their well-being. However, it remains a major challenge to translate such effects to consequences for fitness at an individual and population level. For this, energy budget models have been developed, but suitable data to parametrize these models are lacking. A first step towards such parametrization concerns the objective quantification of behavioural states at high resolution. We experimentally exposed individual Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in a net pen to the playback of seismic airgun sounds. We demonstrated that individual cod in the net pen did not change their swimming patterns immediately at the onset of the sound exposure. However, several individuals changed their time spent in three different behavioural states during the 1 h exposure. This may be translated to changes in energy expenditure and provide suitable input for energy budget models that allow predictions about fitness and population consequences.

Marine seismic surveys produce high intensity, low-frequency impulsive sounds at regular intervals, with most sound produced between 10 and 300Hz. Offshore seismic surveys have long been considered to be disruptive to fisheries, but there are few ecological studies that target commercially important species, particularly invertebrates. This review aims to summarise scientific studies investigating the impacts of low-frequency sound on marine fish and invertebrates, as well as to critically evaluate how such studies may apply to field populations exposed to seismic operations. We focus on marine seismic surveys due to their associated unique sound properties (i.e. acute, low-frequency, mobile source locations), as well as fish and invertebrates due to the commercial value of many species in these groups. The main challenges of seismic impact research are the translation of laboratory results to field populations over a range of sound exposure scenarios and the lack of sound exposure standardisation which hinders the identification of response thresholds. An integrated multidisciplinary approach to manipulative and in situ studies is the most effective way to establish impact thresholds in the context of realistic exposure levels, but if that is not practical the limitations of each approach must be carefully considered.

Ambient visibility is a complex manifestation arising out of interactions among many atmospheric variables, including ambient aerosol load, and region specific geophysical characteristics. To functionally relate visibility impairment in Delhi region during winter months-months marred with poor visibility conditions–a novel experiment was designed to relate visibility with ambient aerosol load (PM2.5), and relevant meteorological variables: dew point temperature (Dp), height of planetary boundary layer (PBL), ambient temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS) and wind direction (WD). Time series data sets of Visibility(t) and other variables were subjected to non–linear decomposition using Empirical Mode Decomposition Method (EMD), enabling to obtain total cyclic and acyclic–trend components embedded in all data–sets. Extracted total cyclic visibility components were functionally related with the corresponding components associated with PM2.5 load and meteorological variables. Decomposed acyclic–trend component of the visibility, representing time dependent acyclic trend (AT), was separately related with the corresponding AT components of the considered meteorological variables. The decomposed components of the visibility (total cyclic and AT) were subjected to multiple linear regression to establish a functional relationship between them and a set of variables among the considered variables. The analysis suggests that acyclic–trend associated with Visibility(t) can be predicted better as opposed to the Visibility(t)cyclic component.

Underwater noise pollution from impulsive sources (e.g. explosions, seismic airguns, percussive pile driving) can affect marine fauna through mortality, physical injury, auditory damage, physiological stress, acoustic masking, and behavioural responses. Given the potential for large-scale impact on marine ecosystems, some countries are now monitoring impulsive noise activity, coordinated internationally through Regional Seas Conventions. Here, we assess impulsive noise activity in the Northeast Atlantic reported during 2015–2017 to the first international impulsive noise register (INR), established in 2016 under the OSPAR Convention. Seismic airgun surveys were the dominant noise source (67%-83% of annual activity) and declined by 38% during 2015–2017. Reported pile driving activity increased 46%. Explosions and sonar/acoustic deterrent devices both had overall increases in reported activity. Some increases were attributable to more comprehensive reporting in later years. We discuss utilising the INR for risk assessment, target setting, and forward planning, and the implementation of similar systems in other regions.

Loud sound emitted during offshore industrial activities can impact marine mammals. Regulations typically prescribe marine mammal monitoring before and/or during these activities to implement mitigation measures that minimise potential acoustic impacts. Using seismic surveys under low visibility conditions as a case study, we review which monitoring methods are suitable and compare their relative strengths and weaknesses. Passive acoustic monitoring has been implemented as either a complementary or alternative method to visual monitoring in low visibility conditions. Other methods such as RADAR, active sonar and thermal infrared have also been tested, but are rarely recommended by regulatory bodies. The efficiency of the monitoring method(s) will depend on the animal behaviour and environmental conditions, however, using a combination of complementary systems generally improves the overall detection performance. We recommend that the performance of monitoring systems, over a range of conditions, is explored in a modelling framework for a variety of species.