West Coast Naval Training Range Demonstration of Glider-Based Passive Acoustic Monitoring

Abstract : The long-term goals of this effort are to develop a mobile, persistent, passive acoustic monitoring capability in support of Navy environmental monitoring requirements. We aim to demonstrate glider-based marine mammal detection, classification, and localization to provide timely information on marine mammal presence in support of Navy environmental monitoring efforts. An important aspect of this project is quantitative evaluation of glider-based capabilities for passive acoustic monitoring with respect to standard monitoring methods. Our objective is to test glider-based passive acoustic monitoring capabilities for marine mammal call detection, classification, and localization (DCL) by collecting glider-based acoustic monitoring data sets within a West Coast naval training range. Because of their mobility, endurance, and acoustically silent operation, gliders provide attractive platforms for acoustic monitoring over extended periods of time over wide areas, with processing capabilities for detection, classification and localization of marine mammal calls. We have been testing various autonomous platforms (submerged and near-surface) for marine mammal call passive acoustic monitoring, and comparing these platforms against the present standard of passive acoustic monitoring with fixed bottom-mounted acoustic instruments. Evaluation of autonomous glider-based passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammal presence is particularly needed within the southern California offshore range, a site of significant naval training.