Controllable acoustic deterrent based on the warning signals generated by nonel detonators

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Acoustics
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Underwater noise, particularly from blasting, poses a threat to marine mammals.
• Current acoustic deterrents' safety and effectiveness remain under scrutiny.
• Mitigating noise impacts requires reliable and controllable solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a controllable acoustic deterrence method for marine mammals.
• To protect marine life from the detrimental effects of underwater blasting noise.
• To establish a predictive model linking acoustic fields to controllable source parameters.

Main Methods:

• Developed a controllable acoustic deterrence system using nonel detonators for strong-randomness warning signals.
• Integrated the BELLHOP acoustic model with marine environmental data and animal auditory characteristics.
• Created a prediction model to define Risk and Deterrent zones for marine animals.

Main Results:

• The prediction model successfully linked acoustic fields with adjustable source parameters.
• Simulation and experimental results showed high accuracy (RMSE ≤ 4.5 dB, R² ≈ 0.8) between predicted and measured sound pressure levels.
• The proposed method demonstrated effective control over acoustic deterrent performances.

Conclusions:

• The controllable acoustic deterrence method is effective in mitigating underwater blasting noise impacts.
• The system provides a practical approach to defining safe and deterrent zones for marine mammals.
• This technology offers a promising solution for marine mammal protection in noisy environments.