It recorded 512,000 sound samples per second, deciphering audio in the 10 to 256,000-Hz frequency bandwidth. The second hydrophone was a top-quality research instrument manufactured by Oceansonics Ltd., that recorded high-resolution audio data continuously to our hard drive storage array for later analysis.
The camera thereby streamed and records real-time video and audio simultaneously. And, by listening to its creaks, cracks and groans, how the character of the sea ice cover changes as it forms, melts, and breaks up each year.Ī FULL-SPECTRUM ACOUSTIC RECORD - The MOO recorded using two hydrophones: One of these underwater microphones operated in the human hearing spectrum (to frequencies less than 20,000 Hz) and was chosen for use because the audio signal is easily combined with the video stream from the MOO's camera. By following changes in the types and frequency of the various calls of the resident Weddell seals, for example, we expect to contribute to an understanding of how the behavior of these southernmost marine mammals changes throughout the year.įurthermore, by teasing apart the acoustic spectrum, analyses of the recorded data may also reveal how invertebrate animal activities vary over time. With this aspect of the MOO project, we aim to document the bioacoustic (animal sound) signatures that reveal the presence and abundance of marine mammals that reside in or visit McMurdo Sound each year. These collected data ( samples of which are available at right) will become the first multi-year record of the underwater soundscape in one of the southernmost marine environments in the world. research institutions for in-depth analysis. The huge volume of recorded audio data is being archived at McMurdo Station for future transport to our U.S. The MOO's audio feed was available continuously for personnel at McMurdo Station, and was occasionally broadcast live to the internet.