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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA Ocean Noise Reference Station Network (NRS) Raw Passive Acoustic Data

browse graphicMonitoring locations for the NRS project. Credit: NOAA
Passive acoustic monitoring of the ocean ambient sound field is a critical aspect of NOAA's mandate for ocean and coastal stewardship. This includes detecting and characterizing: (1) sounds produced and used by living marine resources (e.g., endangered marine mammals); (2) natural sources of noise from physical oceanographic processes; and (3) anthropogenic noise sources that contribute to the overall ocean noise environment. Noise generated by anthropogenic activities (especially commercial shipping and seismic oil & gas exploration) is increasingly being recognized as a potential threat to marine mammals which are protected in the U.S. by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. Current scientific data suggest that increased ambient noise levels impact marine mammals by hindering communication (Hatch et al. 2012), altering communication behavior (Parks et al. 2013), altering locomotive behavior (Pirotta et al. 2013), and inducing stress (Rolland et al. 2012).
Additional concerns associated with the degraded acoustic quality of diverse habitats broaden these concerns to include possible repercussions for fish and invertebrate species, many of which NOAA manages as commercially-harvested, protects as resources within sanctuaries, or studies as key elements to sustaining healthy ecosystems. For these reasons it is important for science-based regulatory agencies including NOAA to monitor long-term trends and changes in the ambient sound field.
The objective of the proposed project is to establish a network of initially ten ocean noise reference stations in U.S. waters to monitor long-term changes and trends in the underwater ambient sound field (McDonald et al. 2006). Our plan is to deploy identical autonomous acoustic recording systems developed in-house at PMEL at each reference station to ensure proper calibration and consistency of the collected data sets.
  • Cite as: NOAA OAR Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOS Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and DOI NPS Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate. 2014. NOAA Ocean Noise Reference Station Network Raw Passive Acoustic Data. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5M32T0D [access date]
gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.pad:NRS_Raw_Data
Search Data
Download Data
  • Google Cloud Storage (download)
    Google Cloud Storage providing public access to passive acoustic data through the NOAA Big Data Project.
Distribution Formats
  • raw audio files (.wav, .aif, .flac) (Version: 1)
    • File Specification: Raw audio files produced from data collected by a passive acoustic recording system. File format is one of the standard audio file formats (.wav, .aif, .flac, etc.)
Ordering Instructions Contact the NCEI Passive Acoustic Data Manager to order data
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Carrie Wall
NCEI Passive Acoustic Archive Lead
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
pad.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2014-05-23T00:16:20 to Present
Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG:4326
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -170.7196
East: -64.65
South: -14.2686
North: 72.4900
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • NOAA Ocean Noise Reference Station Network (NRS)
    • NRS
      This unique network of hydrophones is a collaborative effort between NOAA OAR Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, all NOAA Fisheries Science Centers, the NOAA NOS National Marine Sanctuary System, and the Department of Interior National Park Service to establish and collect consistent and comparable long-term acoustic data sets covering all major regions of the U.S.
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2014-05-23
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose A collaborative effort between OAR’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), all NMFS Science Centers, the NOS National Marine Sanctuary System, and the National Park Service to establish and collect consistent and comparable long-term passive acoustic data sets covering all major regions of the U.S
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: NOAA OAR Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOS Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and DOI NPS Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate. 2014. NOAA Ocean Noise Reference Station Network Raw Passive Acoustic Data. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5M32T0D [access date]
Cited Authors
  • NOAA/PMEL > Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
  • DOC/NOAA/NMFS/AFSC > Alaska Fisheries Science Center
  • DOC/NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC > Northeast Fisheries Science Center
  • DOI/NPS > National Park Service
  • DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC > Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
  • NOS/ONMS/NEGLR/GES SBNMS > Gerry E Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
  • NOAA NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center
  • DOC/NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC > Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Principal Investigators
  • Robert Dziak
    NOAA/PMEL
  • Jay Barlow
    NOAA/SWFSC
  • Catherine Berchok
    NOAA/AFSC
  • Eva DiDonato
    National Park Service Water Resource Division
  • Jason Gedamke
    NMFS/OST/AMD
  • Brad Hanson
    NMFS/NWFSC/CBD
  • Leila Hatch
    Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
  • Samara Haver
    NOAA/PMEL/CIMRS
  • Joe Haxel
    OAR/PMEL
  • Marla Holt
    NOAA/NWFSC
  • Holger Klinck
    Cornell University, Bioacoustics Research Program
  • Danielle Lipski
    NOS/ONMS/WCR/NMS CORDELL BANK
  • Haru Matsumoto
    OAR/CPO/OOMD
  • Megan McKenna
    National Park Service Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division
  • Christian Meinig
    OAR/PMEL
  • David K. Mellinger
    OAR/CPO/OOMD
  • Sue Moore
    NMFS/OST/MED
  • Erin Oleson
    NOAA/PIFSC
  • Melissa Soldevilla
    NOAAA/SEFSC
  • Sofie Van Parijs
    NOAA/NEFSC
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • 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
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • Fixed Observation Stations
Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • Recorders/Loggers > Passive Acoustic Recorder
  • Acoustic Sounders > Hydrophones
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Ocean > Atlantic Ocean
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean
  • Ocean > Arctic Ocean
  • Vertical Location > Water Column
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • NRS > NOAA Ocean Noise Reference Station Network
Use Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
  • Resource may not be available for up to one year after initial collection.
Other Constraints Cite as: NOAA OAR Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOS Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and DOI NPS Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate. 2014. NOAA Ocean Noise Reference Station Network Raw Passive Acoustic Data. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5M32T0D [access date]
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: series
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • NRS
Platform
  • Fixed Observation Stations
Last Modified: 2021-09-09
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov