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MBARC CalCOFI Raw Audio

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: June 28, 2026 at 12:00 AM
These data consist of passive acoustic recordings collected by Scripps Institution of Oceanography's (SIO) Marine Bioacoustics Research Collaborative (MBARC) at University of California, San Diego under the project MBARC_CalCOFI. Acoustic data was collected using sonobuoys deployed at CalCOFI monitoring stations during daylight hours, as part of quarterly surveys. The project aims to determine baleen whale acoustic presence and to augment visual survey efforts. This project used sonobuoys to record underwater sound continuously from low to mid-frequencies for periods of a few hours at each station. Sonobuoys broadcast recording data over radio frequencies, and the data was recorded by receiving equipment aboard the survey vessel. The data has been converted to lossless FLAC format for archival and public distribution through the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). These datasets have been archived as part of an effort to preserve historical recordings, with support from the U.S. NAVY’S Living Marine Resources program.

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Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel non-public
contactPoint 
{
  "fn": "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:pad.info@noaa.gov"
}
describedByType application/octet-steam
description These data consist of passive acoustic recordings collected by Scripps Institution of Oceanography's (SIO) Marine Bioacoustics Research Collaborative (MBARC) at University of California, San Diego under the project MBARC_CalCOFI. Acoustic data was collected using sonobuoys deployed at CalCOFI monitoring stations during daylight hours, as part of quarterly surveys. The project aims to determine baleen whale acoustic presence and to augment visual survey efforts. This project used sonobuoys to record underwater sound continuously from low to mid-frequencies for periods of a few hours at each station. Sonobuoys broadcast recording data over radio frequencies, and the data was recorded by receiving equipment aboard the survey vessel. The data has been converted to lossless FLAC format for archival and public distribution through the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). These datasets have been archived as part of an effort to preserve historical recordings, with support from the U.S. NAVY’S Living Marine Resources program.
distribution 
[
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Metadata Landing Page",
    "accessURL": "https://doi.org/10.25921/z1x8-4b22",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Passive Acoustic Data Site",
    "accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/passive-acoustic-data",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "NCEI site providing more information on the passive acoustic data archive.",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Marine Bioacoustics Research Collaborative (MBARC)",
    "accessURL": "https://mbarc.ucsd.edu/",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "MBARC website",
    "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/navy/audio/mbarc_calcofi",
    "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": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page",
    "accessURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords",
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identifier https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC/MGG/passive_acoustic/iso/xml/MBARC_CalCOFI_Audio.xml
issued 2026-06-28T00:00:00.000+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 > Ecosystems > Marine Ecosystems",
  "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN",
  "Platforms > Water-based > Buoys > Unmoored",
  "Recorders/Loggers > Passive Acoustic Recorder",
  "Acoustic Sounders > Hydrophones",
  "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 2026-06-28T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
{
  "name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
rights otherRestrictions
spatial -117.0,29.0,-126.0,38.0
temporal 2023-01-01T00:00:00+00:00/2023-01-01T00:00:00+00:00
theme 
[
  "geospatial"
]
title MBARC CalCOFI Raw Audio

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