Abstract
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy's underwater radiated noise signature was characterized in the central Arctic Ocean during different types of ice-breaking operations. Propulsion modes included transit in variable ice cover, breaking heavy ice with backing-and-ramming maneuvers, and dynamic positioning with the bow thruster in operation. Compared to open-water transit, Healy's noise signature increased approximately 10 dB between 20 Hz and 2 kHz when breaking ice. The highest noise levels resulted while the ship was engaged in backing-and-ramming maneuvers, owing to cavitation when operating the propellers astern or in opposing directions. In frequency bands centered near 10, 50, and 100 Hz, source levels reached 190–200 dB re: 1 μPa at 1 m (full octave band) during ice-breaking operations.
Department
Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping
Publication Date
4-2013
Volume
133, Issue 4
Journal Title
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Pages
1971–1980
Publisher
Acoustical Society of America
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1121/1.4790356
Document Type
Journal Article
Recommended Citation
E. H. Roth, V. Schmidt, J. A. Hildebrand, and S. M. Wiggins, ‘Underwater radiated noise levels of a research icebreaker in the central arctic ocean’, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, vol. 133, no. 4, p. 1971, 2013.