Noise and Vibration Levels in Artificial Polar Bear Dens as Related to Selected Petroleum Exploration and Developmental Activities

• Published in: ARCTIC
• Main Authors: Blix, A.S., Lentfer, J.W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1992
• Subjects: Aircraft disturbance; Denning; Environmental impacts; Instruments; Measurement; Noise; Oil well drilling; Polar bears; Seismic surveys; Snow; Vehicles; Vibration; Prudhoe Bay region; Alaska; Prudhoe Bay; Arctic
• Online Access: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/64424

The noise and vibration levels resulting from seismic testing, drilling and transport were measured in artificial polar bear dens of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. It was concluded that the dry and wind-beaten arctic snow muffles both sound and vibrations extremely well and it seems unlikely that polar bears in their dens will be disturbed by the type of petroleum-related activities measured here, providing those activities do not take place within 100 m of the den.Key words: Ursus marifimus, seismic activity, conservation RÉSUMÉ. Dans des tanières artificielles d'ours polaires situées Prudhoe Bay en Alaska, on a mesuré le niveau de vibrations et de bruit dus aux essais sismiques, au forage et au transport. On en conclut que la neige sêche de l'Arctique, durcie par le vent, atténue trbs bien sons et vibrations, eitl semble peu probable que les ours polaires soient dérangés dans leurs tanibres par les activité pétrolières qui ont fait l'objet de nos mesures, pourvu que ces activités n'aient pas lieu à moins de 100 m de la tanière.Mots clés: Ursus marifimus, activité sismique, préservation