Projects
In Development
WISSP: Whale Identification for Ship Strike Prevention
Ship strikes—collisions between whales and vessels—are the leading cause of whale mortality along the U.S. West Coast. A 2017 study estimated that in a single year, 20 blue whales, 22 fin whales, and 28 humpback whales were killed by vessels—numbers that exceed sustainable limits for these endangered species.
WISSP (Whale Identification for Ship Strike Prevention) is an acoustic monitoring project designed to detect, identify, and track whales in real time using a breakthrough signal processing technique called wavelet analysis. This allows for high-resolution, real-time interpretation of underwater sounds while preserving precise time and frequency data.
The system uses broadband hydrophone arrays placed offshore to listen for whale calls. These acoustic signals are then translated into real-time alerts for ships via AIS (Automatic Identification System), helping them steer clear of endangered animals.
WISSP’s first deployment will take place in the Greater Farallones region—one of the busiest maritime routes on the Pacific Coast—to deliver proof-of-concept and help shape future policies to reduce ship strikes worldwide.
Ongoing
Cook Inlet Project – Protecting Whales and Their Food Source from Seismic Blasting
Baleen whales—some of the largest animals on Earth—depend on some of the ocean’s smallest organisms: zooplankton. But seismic airgun blasting from oil and gas exploration poses a grave threat to both whales and their food supply.
These airguns fire intense underwater blasts every few seconds for weeks or months, creating noise pollution that can travel thousands of miles. Studies have found high concentrations of dead zooplankton in areas affected by these surveys, suggesting a serious disruption to the marine food chain.
Despite growing concerns, there is still insufficient scientific evidence to influence policy. Our Cook Inlet Project aims to change that by gathering the data needed to protect marine life and push for meaningful regulation.
Acoustic Metrics
To understand underwater sound and its impact on marine life, we use a concise set of standard descriptors—what we call “metrics.” These quantitative terms help describe the physical characteristics of complex acoustic environments.
1. Kurtosis
Most noise exposure guidelines focus only on loudness. But not all sounds are equal—some are dulcet, others are screechy. Kurtosis is a statistical term that describes how “rough” or “piercing” a sound is. It’s strongly correlated with aggravating acoustic qualities that can distress marine life.
We introduced Kurtosis into international acoustic standards (ISO 18405) and are working to integrate it into U.S. regulatory frameworks. It’s a useful way to describe the character of noise—not just the volume.
2. Threshold
Perceptual thresholds describe the point at which sound stimuli trigger nervous system responses in animals. Whether it’s a change in amplitude, frequency, acceleration, or timing—thresholds help us understand what sounds are disruptive to marine species.
3. Noise Criteria
Architectural spaces are designed to meet human hearing preferences—but the ocean is home to many species with vastly different auditory needs. Ocean Noise Criteria aims to define acoustic guidelines that reflect the perceptual priorities of marine life, not just people.
Citizen Science Sailors: Mapping Ocean Noise
While many ocean noise maps exist, most are modeled from shipping routes rather than measured in the field. This citizen science project equips long-distance recreational sailors with deployable hydrophones and sensor packages to directly record underwater noise levels from their boats.
These firsthand recordings are analyzed and mapped, providing rare empirical data on ocean noise that would otherwise be too costly to collect. By turning sailors into sound scouts, we’re building a richer, more accurate acoustic map of the sea.
We’re collaborating with Hello Ocean and GIS design firm Silverleaf Geospatial to make this possible—opening ears to the real, often-overlooked problem of ocean noise pollution.
Acoustic Journeys
Sound Booth Concept Design
While listening to a single sound or acoustic habitat can be thrilling, expanding that experience into a broader context can be deeply informative. Through Acoustic Journeys, we are developing two immersive narrative compositions—Arctic Soundscapes and Ocean Soundscapes—to help listeners explore marine environments across imaginary space and time.
These sound-based journeys are designed to reveal the subtle interactions of life, movement, and energy within the sea, inviting a deeper understanding of ocean acoustics.
Sea-floor Processing
New technologies in offshore petroleum extraction are moving processing equipment down to the seafloor—introducing new and largely unmeasured sources of underwater noise. These sound sources are not currently monitored or regulated, yet they may have significant ecological impacts.
The processing of multi-phase materials (solids, liquids, and gas) under extreme conditions likely generates considerable noise. These systems rely on acoustic communication networks and are supported by floating, dynamically stabilized platforms—all of which contribute to the underwater soundscape.
We are pursuing two strategies to better understand this impact: first, by deploying autonomous profilers to drift across deep-sea oil operations in the Gulf of Mexico and record underwater noise levels; and second, by engaging recreational sailors to deploy hydrophones and document noise near deep-sea infrastructure sites.
Zuvuya
Zuvuya is the Mayan word for the circuit by which everything returns to its source—connecting memory to the future as well as the past.
The mission of ZUVUYA is to offer a sensory, multimedia experience that blends science and art. It aims to reconnect each of us to our ocean home and inspire deep stewardship, healing, and reverence for the sea and for ourselves.
Completed
Arctic Focus
Don’tBeABuckethead.org was developed as a joint education and outreach project with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), focused on the acoustic impacts of fossil fuel exploration and production in the Arctic.
To share the pristine soundscape of the Arctic, we processed five full days of audio recordings from the Macaulay Library, offering visitors an immersive auditory experience of the Arctic Ocean—alongside the visual perspective of an ocean scientist.
Historic Ocean Noise Levels
There’s a common assumption that the ocean was silent before modern machinery. But long before industrialized fishing and whaling, the ocean was saturated with natural biological noise—likely even louder than the mechanized oceans of today.