Off-shore measurements on the Black Sea noise pollution
Friday, July 16, 2010 (09:56:05)

Posted by anmb

Under the RoNoMar project, joint research between Aalesund University College and the Naval Academy "Mircea cel Bătrân" focuses on measuring the underwater noise on the Romanian continental platform of the Black Sea and establishing its impact on the ecosystem. The project employs researches and experts from four research institutes and universities.

After initial studies in controlled environments (prolonged by the unexpected harsh winter), the research activity moved to off-shore measurements on the Black Sea noise pollution. Measurements were performed at the entrance in Constanta Harbor on board of the marine research ship "Mare Nigrum", operated by National Institute of Marine Geology and Geoecology.

Within the first year of the RoNoMar project, the project research team was involved in the following actitivites:
- analyse technologies of underwater noise and vibration measurements
- research the impact of underwater noise and vibration on marine fauna
- select representative species of bivalve, fish and mammals in the ecosystems in the NW area (from ecological and economical point of view) and classify them (from acoustic sensitivity point of view)
- research in laboratory conditions the effects of exposure to noise on mussels from the Black Sea
- install measurement equipment, measure underwater noise (background & ambient noise near shipping lanes), and analyze the data
- measure and map the noise in the Romanian Black Sea coast area.