Aircraft-Produced Sonic Booms and Marine Life

With the advent of new-age supersonic aircraft such as NASA’s X-59, Boom Supersonic’s Overture, and Spike Aerospace’s S-512, there is an emergent need to investigate their environmental consequences. This review evaluates existing research and information to determine what is currently known about supersonic aircraft and their potential impacts on marine life through a three-step process. 1) Determining possible characteristics of sonic booms produced by the aircraft: the aircraft being evaluated in this article produce low-frequency (0.1-100 Hz) sounds with surface PLdBs (perceived surface loudness decibel levels) around 70-75 dB. 2) Assessing the behavior of similar sounds as they interact with the ocean: sonic booms have been observed to penetrate the ocean for 98-164 ft, but this depth can vary due to differences between the experimental and real-life flight conditions. A separate effect, produced by sonic booms’ contact with the ocean surface, may penetrate deeper as infrasound. 3) Evaluating the potential consequences of these sounds on marine life: the continuous production of sonic booms along flight paths worldwide raises concerns about possible noise pollution, adding to the existing issue of oceanic anthropogenic noise pollution. Existing literature on underwater noise pollution—with similar frequencies and comparable intensities—shows negative impacts on marine reproduction, communication, stress levels, and physical health. This review contributes to broader ongoing discussions surrounding the resurgence of supersonic aviation and its environmental impact. Further research is necessary to assess the impact that transoceanic supersonic flight could have on marine ecosystems to truly determine supersonic flight’s environmental footprint.