MAR35 - Arctic Acoustics: Insights into a Dynamic Underwater Soundscape - sponsored by the Weston Family Foundation

Climate change is driving unprecedented changes in sea ice coverage throughout the Arctic. With these decreases in sea ice, corresponding human activity has significantly intensified. Beneath the surface, these influences are readily heard, with vessel noise and wind events increasingly contributing to an already dynamic soundscape. However, the extent to which changes in the Arctic soundscape are affecting marine species is only beginning to be understood. This session features work that addresses existing knowledge gaps; both in our understanding of what comprises Arctic marine soundscapes, and how noise, in all its forms, affects marine organisms. This includes, but is not limited to, studies pertaining to noise exposure levels, behavioral responses to noise, and the physiological effects of chronic noise. Research devoted to identifying the acoustic consequences of a changing Arctic is crucial to developing appropriate mitigation strategies and safeguarding the Arctic's marine ecosystems into the future. 

Co-Chairs: Deborah Sharpe, University of Victoria, Widlife Conservation Society Canada 

Alex Hare, University of Victoria, Widlife Conservation Society Canada