Korea’s passive acoustic monitoring research on underwater noise and marine mammals in a changing Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is projected to become nearly ice-free during summer by 2030, significantly increasing human activities such as maritime traffic and coastal development. These activities contribute to elevated underwater noise levels, potentially threatening marine mammals crucial for the food security and cultural heritage of Arctic Indigenous communities. Recognizing this growing environmental concern, international organizations, including the Arctic Council and the International Maritime Organization have emphasized the importance of Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) research. In alignment with these priorities, the Korea Polar Research Institute has conducted PAM-based studies focusing on three main areas: long-term monitoring of underwater noise variability, characterization of seabed properties using anthropogenic noise, and development of classification methods for marine mammal vocalizations. Continuous PAM data collection provides essential information on temporal variations in the Arctic acoustic environment. Anthropogenic noise is utilized to infer seabed characteristics through acoustic inversion methods, demonstrating PAM’s effectiveness for environmental characterization. Additionally, advanced acoustic classification techniques for marine mammal vocalizations enable more precise ecological assessments. This comprehensive PAM approach contributes to a better understanding of the Arctic marine environment, supporting sustainable management strategies in response to ongoing environmental transformations.