What does this research mean for the field?

EMODnet Physics has successfully integrated underwater noise data flows, including operational Sound Pressure Level data and impulsive sound registries, to support European marine environmental monitoring requirements. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.METHODOLOGICAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to assess the data flow of underwater noise measurements and their impact on marine environments.

June 6, 2026Open Access

Dataflow of underwater noise measurements: from OBSEA to EMODnet

Key Points

This research aims to assess the data flow of underwater noise measurements and their impact on marine environments.
Overview of EMODnet Physics organization
Development of operational underwater noise data
Integration of SPL and sound maps into EMODnet portal.
EMODnet Physics established operational underwater noise data availability as of 2023.
Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) connected to European marine environmental data systems.
Monthly sound maps are developed for continuous monitoring of underwater noise.

Abstract

Underwater noise has been significantly raising in the past decades due to an increment of human-related activities in the oceans such as shipping, industrial activities, seismic explorations, etc. These activities may have adverse effects on fish and mammals, such as communications masking and modifying predator– prey interactions. In order to assess and limit the impact of these, the European Commission approved the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) which aims to achieve a good environmental status in European waters. Within this directive different environmental challenges are addressed, including the long-term monitoring of underwater noise throughout European waters. EMODnet Physics, one of the European Marine Observation and Data network thematic portals, which is is currently providing easy access to data and products of: wave height and period; temperature and salinity of the water column; wind speed and direction; horizontal velocity of the water column; light attenuation; sea ice coverage and sea level trends. EMODnet Physics is continuously increasing the number and type of platforms in the system by unlocking and providing high quality data from a growing network. EMODnet Physics has recently started working on water noise with the aim of making available more operational data (in terms of parameters and format that are close to MSFD I.11 requirements), offer a single European entry point to impulsive noise registries (MSFD I.11.1) and work on (regional) sound maps are three key identified activities for Physics. Furthermore the very first operational under water noise data (i.e. Sound Pressure Level – SPL), and HELCOM and OSPAR impulsive sounds registry were connected and are now available on the portal. Exploiting the LIDO (Listen to Deep Ocean) knowledge and the BIAS project (https://biasproject. wordpress.com/) experience EMODnet Physics will develop and make available monthly sound maps. In this presentation, we give an overview of how EMODnet Physics is organized, with a particular focus on this new data flow and its perspectives.

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