Title: Field Observations During Offshore Wind Structure Installation and Operation, Volume I
Key Researchers: J. L. Amaral, K. Ampela, A. S. Frankel, A. A. Khan, Y.-T. Lin, T. Mason,
J. H. Miller, A. E. Newhall, G. R. Potty
As part of the Real-Time Opportunity for Development Environmental Observations (RODEO) Study, underwater sound was measured during the installation of two wind turbines as part of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) pilot project. Through coordination with the operator and NOAA, an experiment was conducted that allowed for the measurement of sound from one turbine while a bubble curtain was used for to reduce the sound, and from a turbine without the bubble curtain. Using a variety of instruments that were placed near the installation location and also a variety of techniques to make measurements up to 30 kilometers from the installation, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the bubble curtain was made.
Findings
- The bubble curtain reduced the sound (peak pressure) from 4.2 to 23.1 dB depending on the distance
- The effectiveness of the noise reduction at CVOW was dependent on sound frequency
How BOEM will use this information
- Results will inform environmental assessments of future offshore wind development
- Provide information about the use of mitigation measures such as bubble curtains and their effectiveness