Connection between Ocean Acidification and Sound Propagation

Year 2015, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 16 - 26, 03.08.2015

Cem Gazioğlu , A. Edip Müftüoğlu Volkan Demir Abdullah Aksu Volkan Okutan

https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.303538

Cited By: 9

Abstract

Ocean Ambient Noise (OAN) results from both anthropogenic and natural sources. Varied noise sources are
dominant in low (LFB: 10 to 500 Hz), medium (MFB: 500 Hz to 25 kHz) and high (HFB:>25 kHz) frequency
bands. Mostly, LFB is dominated by anthropogenic sources. MFB that cannot spread over long ranges of sound
sources contribute to the OAN. Ocean is an exceptionally noisy place.
Ocean acidification (OAc) from rising Carbon dioxide (CO2
) levels will result in decreased sound absorption
and therefore, amplified levels of OAN. Carbon dioxide spewed into the atmosphere by burned fossil-fuel
which dissolves in the seawater causes more acidic condition in oceans which has strong connection between
chemical oceanography and sound propagation. As the ocean becomes more acidic, sound absorption at LFB
decreases and acidic oceans would result in significant decreases in ocean sound absorption.
In the recent years, the acoustic environment of oceans has reacted to transformations in both natural and
anthropogenic impacts. Greenhouse gases concentrations, especially CO2
, rises in atmosphere due to industrial
revolution. CO2 dissolved in the seawaters deposited in two major forms (carbonate and bicarbonate), which
both lead to decrease pH of surface waters. Over the last 400 million years, pH of oceans has been stable
around 8.2 globally. Latest investigations suggest that global pH is around 8.1 globally and various general
oceanic circulation models (GOCM) calculate that, emissions could reduce ocean pH by a degree between 0.4
units (according to moderate approach) and 0.7 units (according to an aggressive one) by the end of this
century.
This article discusses the CO2 considerations both in the atmosphere and hydrosphere which are directly related
with seawater pH and oceans noise levels.

Keywords

Ocean Acidification (OAc), pH, CO2, sound propagation

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