A new initiative aimed at understanding and monitoring underwater soundscapes in Brazil’s Santos Basin has been launched, focusing on the impacts of human activities, particularly in the oil and gas sector. Led by José Antonio Moreira Lima from the Laboratory of Computational Mechanics and Offshore Systems at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the Santos Basin Underwater Soundscape Monitoring Project (PMPAS-BS) seeks to quantify the hydroacoustic noise generated by various anthropogenic sources in this crucial maritime region.
The Santos Basin, located off the southeastern coast of Brazil, is a vital area for both commercial shipping and oil exploration. It encompasses significant shipping lanes and is home to Brazil’s main ports, Santos and Rio de Janeiro. The project aims to assess the extent of noise pollution from oil and gas activities, which can disrupt marine life and affect the overall health of the ocean ecosystem.
PMPAS-BS employs a multifaceted approach to monitoring. It includes mobile monitoring using gliders and drifting acoustic profilers, as well as fixed shallow-water and deep-water monitoring stations equipped with passive acoustic recorders. This comprehensive methodology allows researchers to capture sound levels across more than 251,000 square kilometers, providing valuable data from both heavily trafficked areas and more pristine sites.
According to Lima, “The results provide current sound levels over a very large region of the western South Atlantic, both in areas more and less affected by anthropogenic activities.” This information is crucial for understanding the impact of noise pollution on marine ecosystems, which can have far-reaching implications for biodiversity and fisheries.
The findings from this project could have significant commercial implications. For the oil and gas industry, understanding the acoustic environment can inform better practices to mitigate noise pollution and its effects on marine life. Additionally, shipping companies may benefit from insights that help them navigate more sustainably, potentially avoiding areas of high acoustic disturbance.
The PMPAS-BS project represents a proactive step towards balancing economic activities with environmental stewardship in one of Brazil’s most important maritime regions. As the research progresses, it will be published in “Frontiers in Marine Science,” offering a platform for sharing insights that could shape future policies and practices in both the energy and shipping sectors.
