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An Ocean Observing System for Large-Scale Monitoring and Mapping of Noise Throughout the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: August 02, 2026 at 09:51 PM | Dataset Last Updated: September 21, 2020 at 12:00 AM
This record represents raw passive acoustic data collected from the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS). From 2006 to 2011, researchers deployed arrays of bottom-mounted Marine Autonomous Recording Units (MARUs). These units continuously recorded low-frequency sound in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. We analyzed recordings from these units for the presence of vocally-active baleen whales and fish species. We also combined MARU data with data from the U.S. Coast Guard's Automatic Identification System to calculate noise budget contributions from tracked vessels in the area. To investigate the potential effects of vessel noise on the acoustic communication of marine mammals, we integrated ship and whale data. Together with the National Park Service we use these data to develop tools for understanding long-term changes in the sanctuary's 'soundscape.'

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Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Fish Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Mammals > Cetaceans Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Acoustics Earth Science Oceans > Aquatic Sciences > Fisheries Earth Science > Oceans > Marine Environment Monitoring Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Acoustics > Ambient Noise Earth Science > Biosphere > Aquatic Ecosystems Earth Science > Biosphere > Aquatic Ecosystems > Marine Habitat

Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel non-public
contactPoint 
{
  "fn": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:ncei.info@noaa.gov"
}
describedByType application/octet-steam
description This record represents raw passive acoustic data collected from the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS). From 2006 to 2011, researchers deployed arrays of bottom-mounted Marine Autonomous Recording Units (MARUs). These units continuously recorded low-frequency sound in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. We analyzed recordings from these units for the presence of vocally-active baleen whales and fish species. We also combined MARU data with data from the U.S. Coast Guard's Automatic Identification System to calculate noise budget contributions from tracked vessels in the area. To investigate the potential effects of vessel noise on the acoustic communication of marine mammals, we integrated ship and whale data. Together with the National Park Service we use these data to develop tools for understanding long-term changes in the sanctuary's 'soundscape.'
distribution 
[
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Metadata Landing Page",
    "accessURL": "https://doi.org/10.25921/g3vk-v972",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Passive Acoustic Data Site",
    "accessURL": "https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/pad/",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "NCEI site providing more information on the passive acoustic data archive.",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Passive Acoustic Data Map Viewer",
    "accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/passive_acoustic_data/",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Interactive map viewer to allow discovery and access to passive acoustic data",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Google Cloud Storage",
    "accessURL": "https://console.cloud.google.com/storage/browser/noaa-passive-bioacoustic/nefsc/audio/sbnms",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Google Cloud Storage providing public access to passive acoustic data through the NOAA Big Data Project.",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Ocean Noise and Soundscape Projects",
    "accessURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/ocean-noise-and-soundscape-projects",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "The Passive Acoustic Research Group of the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center participates in a variety of collaborative projects geared towards addressing the chronic issue of ocean noise.",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
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  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords",
    "accessURL": "https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/find-data/idn/gcmd-keywords",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords.",
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    "title": "NCEI Contact Information",
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identifier https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC/MGG/passive_acoustic/iso/xml/NEFSC_SBNMS_Raw_Data.xml
isPartOf Ocean Noise and Soundscape Projects
issued 2020-09-21T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
[
  "Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Fish",
  "Earth Science > Biological Classification > Animals/Vertebrates > Mammals > Cetaceans",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Acoustics",
  "Earth Science Oceans > Aquatic Sciences > Fisheries",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Marine Environment Monitoring",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Ocean Acoustics > Ambient Noise",
  "Earth Science > Biosphere > Aquatic Ecosystems",
  "Earth Science > Biosphere > Aquatic Ecosystems > Marine Habitat",
  "Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean",
  "Vertical Location > Water Column",
  "Fixed Observation Stations",
  "Recorders/Loggers > Passive Acoustic Recorder",
  "Acoustic Sounders > Hydrophones",
  "SBNMS > Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Passive Acoustic Research",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce"
]
language 
[]
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 2020-09-21T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
{
  "name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
references 
[
  "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/ocean-noise-and-soundscape-projects"
]
rights otherRestrictions
spatial -70.12552,42.066,-70.53532,42.8131
temporal 2007-12-19T00:00:00+00:00/2010-05-24T00:00:00+00:00
theme 
[
  "geospatial"
]
title An Ocean Observing System for Large-Scale Monitoring and Mapping of Noise Throughout the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

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