Acoustic data collection in arctic environments during the midnight sun using multi-channel SoundSHROOMs

As climate change and habitat loss continue to impact ecosystems worldwide, efficient and scalable biodiversity monitoring tools are increasingly needed. Bioacoustic data are invaluable for tracking shifts in species distributions, detecting invasive species, and monitoring ecosystem health. In this paper, we present an audio dataset from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, collected during the Arctic summer of 2023 using custom-developed Sensor-equipped Habitat Recorders for Outdoor Omnidirectional Monitoring (SoundSHROOMs) units. These devices employ ten spatially-separated, high-resolution microphones to provide 360° monitoring over 6 days across 9 locations. Our study aimed to assess the deployment process of SoundSHROOMs in Arctic conditions, collect multi-channel acoustic data for spatial audio applications, and to evaluate various microphone windshields under realistic wind loading. The resulting multi-channel synchronized microphone data capture a wealth of bioacoustic information from vocalizing animals, particularly bird species. The dataset offers valuable insights into the presence, abundance, and behavior of avian populations in Svalbard, demonstrating the effectiveness of bioacoustic monitoring in remote and challenging environments.