What is Anthropogenic Sound? Anthropogenic Sound Explained

What is Anthropogenic Sound?

Anthropogenic sound, also known as human-generated sound, refers to any type of noise that is produced by human activity.

This can include a wide variety of sources, such as transportation, industrial and construction activities (shipping, drilling, sonar, seismic surveys,…), and leisure activities such as music and recreational boating.

One of the most significant sources of anthropogenic sound is transportation, particularly the noise produced by cars, trucks, and trains. Industrial activities, such as drilling and mining, also produce significant amounts of noise. Additionally, construction activities such as pilling for oil and gas are a huge source of noise pollution. Leisure activities also contribute to the anthropogenic sound. For example, recreational boating and personal watercraft, like jet skis, can generate loud noise that can disturb marine life and human activities on the water.

Anthropogenic sound can have negative impacts on both human and animal populations. For marine life, it can disrupt communication, navigation, feeding, and other critical behaviors of marine animals. This is particularly true for species that rely on sound for communication, such as whales and dolphins. Anthropogenic sound can also cause physical harm to marine life, such as hearing loss, tissue damage, and behavioral changes.

In order to mitigate the negative impacts of anthropogenic sound, it is important to identify and reduce sources of noise pollution, as well as to protect areas that are particularly sensitive to anthropogenic noise. In the maritime industry, it is important to take steps to minimize its impact on marine life, including through the use of quieter technologies, careful planning and monitoring of activities, and compliance with regulations designed to protect marine mammals and their habitats.