A single-station method for the detection, classification and location of fin whale calls using ocean-bottom seismic stations

Passive seismic monitoring in the oceans uses long-term deployments of Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBSs). An OBS usually records the three components of ground motion and pressure, typically at 100Hz. This makes the OBS an ideal tool to investigate fin and blue whales that vocalize at frequencies bel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Main Authors: Matias, L., Harris, D.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/a-singlestation-method-for-the-detection-classification-and-location-of-fin-whale-calls-using-oceanbottom-seismic-stations(f4a52fb5-1320-4fd8-aba4-84bd8aa591e9).html
https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4922706
https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/8064/1/Harris_2015_JASA_Single.pdf
Description
Summary:Passive seismic monitoring in the oceans uses long-term deployments of Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBSs). An OBS usually records the three components of ground motion and pressure, typically at 100Hz. This makes the OBS an ideal tool to investigate fin and blue whales that vocalize at frequencies below 45Hz. Previous applications of OBS data to locate whale calls have relied on single channel analyses that disregard the information that is conveyed by the horizontal seismic channels. Recently, Harris, Matias, Thomas, Harwood, and Geissler [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 134, 3522-3535 (2013)] presented a method that used all four channels recorded by one OBS to derive the range and azimuth of fin whale calls. In this work, the detection, classification, and ranging of calls using this four-channel method were further investigated, focusing on methods to increase the accuracy of range estimates to direct path arrivals. Corrections to account for the influences of the sound speed in the water layer and the velocity structure in the top strata of the seabed were considered. The single station method discussed here is best implemented when OBSs have been deployed in deep water on top of seabed strata with low P-wave velocity. These conditions maximize the ability to detect and estimate ranges to fin whale calls.