Sounds in the sea: how can we listen from ocean gliders?

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Measurement of sound in the sea has a long history but the advent of autonomous vehicles offers a new opportunity for full-depth, high-resolution, year-round monitoring. As the oceans become ever noisier, we need to understand and develop new smart, efficient systems to detect rainfall, wind, shipping or industrial noise, and marine mammal calls. In this project Pierre will explore the scientific potential of ocean gliders for marine acoustic mapping, and assess what we can learn about the marine environment from such measurements.UEA and the glider manufacturer Kongsberg trialled passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) sensors on our gliders during a 2014 campaign in the Mediterranean. This pilot data set is available for analysis for this project. In parallel, SAMS have developed Drifting Ears, freely drifting smart sensors to measure underwater sound with a focus on marine mammal detection. Cefas are developing PAM technology for their Wavegliders and have extensive experience of analysing PAM sensor data from moorings. This PhD combines this expertise to provide an exciting project at the cutting edge of developing this new capability. Depending on Pierre's interests, the project may have an emphasis on applications for marine mammal detection, marine anthropogenic noise, rainfall or a combination of these.We will equip one of the UEA Seagliders with a newly developed PAM sensor and Pierre will explore its use both in the laboratory and in Pierre's own dedicated deployment, which may be in UK shelf seas, or in the Indian Ocean as part of the 2nd International Indian Ocean Experiment. Pierre will 1) use UEAs state-of-the-art seawater tank to trial the PAM sensor and develop new smart signal processing techniques to assess and remove the sounds of the glider manoeuvres, such as pumps and motors and 2) undertake a glider PAM sensor deployment and analyse the signals of marine mammals, ships and other sources of noise to determine the resulting soundscape.A novel data processing method to account for the glider's profiling path may be necessary. Experimentation and development of a 'loitering' capability will be undertaken with the glider manufacturers.Pierre will work closely with SAMS and Cefas acoustics experts, who are experienced in processing acoustic data and extracting relevant signals for particular applications. For example, marine biologists at SAMS use sound to identify the presence of particular species of marine mammals, and Cefas monitor the impacts of sound associated with pile driving and windfarms in the North Sea. The NEXUSS CDT provides state-of-the-art, highly experiential training in the application and development of cutting-edge Smart and Autonomous Observing Systems for the environmental sciences, alongside comprehensive personal and professional development. There will be extensive opportunities for students to expand their multi-disciplinary outlook through interactions with a wide network of academic, research and industrial / government / policy partners. Pierre will be registered and hosted in COAS and will also spend significant periods of time working at SAMS and Cefas. UEA is renowned globally for its expertise in marine and atmospheric science, and is the only UK university to own and operate its own fleet of ocean gliders. SAMS also runs a glider survey operationally in the North Atlantic, and has a long history of innovative technological development. Cefas is the agency tasked with monitoring the UK's waters. Embedding this project within all these groups will give Pierre exceptional access to learning from top scientists. Specific training will include: - ocean glider piloting, operation, and data analysis- oceanography and marine biology- acoustics- computing and signal processing of large acoustic data sets- seagoing and marine data collection skills- engineering challenges for sensor integration and development.