SEA 6 Technical report: underwater ambient noise

Abstract

This report has been prepared by QinetiQ as part of the UK Department of Tradeand Industry (Dti) offshore energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)programme. This technical report is part of the SEA 6 process which covers thearea from Milford Haven northwards through St Georges Channel, the Irish Sea,The North Channel and up into the outer Clyde Estuary. This report looks at thesources of underwater noise that combine to provide the background ambient noiselevels in the shallow waters of the SEA 6 area, considers the mechanisms by whichthe sound is generated and may then be modified by the environment. Options forcharacterising ambient noise levels in the SEA 6 area are presented