Observations of fin whales and vessels offshore oregon using fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing
We analysed Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) data from a fibre optic sensing system deployed on an existing submarine cable located offshore Oregon to characterize fin whale calls. A sequence of over 300 calls in a 2-hour period was identified using the conventional earthquake detection technique...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1603541/full |
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| author | Steve Horne Anna L. Stork Frantisek Stanek |
| author_facet | Steve Horne Anna L. Stork Frantisek Stanek |
| author_sort | Steve Horne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We analysed Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) data from a fibre optic sensing system deployed on an existing submarine cable located offshore Oregon to characterize fin whale calls. A sequence of over 300 calls in a 2-hour period was identified using the conventional earthquake detection technique of template matching. With these initial detections we then used a robust correlation, and stacking process to estimate the call signatures and timings. Calls were found to be of two distinct types that are typical for fin whales and referred to as doublets. The calls typically alternate between the two types with an inter-call interval of approximately 15 seconds. These sequences pause approximately every 12 minutes for a couple of minutes before recommencing. These breaks are interpreted to be the whale resurfacing to breath. We track the whale’s location over two hours using conventional location methods from time picks derived from a correlation process. This shows that the whale moved eastwards, towards the Pacific coastline, before turning to the south. Coincidentally, during this time frame a large container vessel also traverses the submarine fibre optic cable. The distance between the vessel and the whale ranges between 16 km and 2km at the closest point of approach. The whale initially appears to turn north as the vessel approaches to within 10km of the vessel and then follows an erratic localized track before proceeding in a southward direction away from the vessel. This behaviour may be indicative of an avoidance behaviour. This observation suggests fibre optic acoustic measurement systems could routinely monitor underwater radiated noise from marine traffic and marine mammals using existing seafloor cables to establish typical behavioural patterns. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fb18c55b858347b687eafe28cc01bf0b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-fb18c55b858347b687eafe28cc01bf0b2025-08-20T03:15:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-07-011210.3389/fmars.2025.16035411603541Observations of fin whales and vessels offshore oregon using fibre optic distributed acoustic sensingSteve HorneAnna L. StorkFrantisek StanekWe analysed Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) data from a fibre optic sensing system deployed on an existing submarine cable located offshore Oregon to characterize fin whale calls. A sequence of over 300 calls in a 2-hour period was identified using the conventional earthquake detection technique of template matching. With these initial detections we then used a robust correlation, and stacking process to estimate the call signatures and timings. Calls were found to be of two distinct types that are typical for fin whales and referred to as doublets. The calls typically alternate between the two types with an inter-call interval of approximately 15 seconds. These sequences pause approximately every 12 minutes for a couple of minutes before recommencing. These breaks are interpreted to be the whale resurfacing to breath. We track the whale’s location over two hours using conventional location methods from time picks derived from a correlation process. This shows that the whale moved eastwards, towards the Pacific coastline, before turning to the south. Coincidentally, during this time frame a large container vessel also traverses the submarine fibre optic cable. The distance between the vessel and the whale ranges between 16 km and 2km at the closest point of approach. The whale initially appears to turn north as the vessel approaches to within 10km of the vessel and then follows an erratic localized track before proceeding in a southward direction away from the vessel. This behaviour may be indicative of an avoidance behaviour. This observation suggests fibre optic acoustic measurement systems could routinely monitor underwater radiated noise from marine traffic and marine mammals using existing seafloor cables to establish typical behavioural patterns.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1603541/fulldistributed acoustic sensingpassive acoustic monitoringunderwater radiated noiseship noise emissionmarine mammalbehavioural response |
| spellingShingle | Steve Horne Anna L. Stork Frantisek Stanek Observations of fin whales and vessels offshore oregon using fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing Frontiers in Marine Science distributed acoustic sensing passive acoustic monitoring underwater radiated noise ship noise emission marine mammal behavioural response |
| title | Observations of fin whales and vessels offshore oregon using fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing |
| title_full | Observations of fin whales and vessels offshore oregon using fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing |
| title_fullStr | Observations of fin whales and vessels offshore oregon using fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Observations of fin whales and vessels offshore oregon using fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing |
| title_short | Observations of fin whales and vessels offshore oregon using fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing |
| title_sort | observations of fin whales and vessels offshore oregon using fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing |
| topic | distributed acoustic sensing passive acoustic monitoring underwater radiated noise ship noise emission marine mammal behavioural response |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1603541/full |
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