Life and Death Sounds of Iceberg A53a

Abstract

Atmospheric and surface ocean temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula region have increased by a few degrees Celsius over the last few decades, and they are the most rapid changes recorded in the Southern Hemisphere during this time period (Cook et al., 2005 Meredith and King, 2005). Associated with this ongoing warming are ice-sheet breakup, iceberg calving, and subsequent iceberg grounding that are accompanied by the release of acoustic energy into the Southern Ocean. Although much attention has been given to the increasing anthropogenic contributions to ocean noise, which may be as much as 12 dB over the last few decades (Hildebrand, 2009), the sounds created by ice breakup at the poles may represent an underappreciated, yet significant, natural contribution to the ocean noise budget. (Cook et al., 2005 Meredith and King, 2005). Associated with this ongoing warming are ice-sheet breakup, iceberg calving, and subsequent iceberg grounding that are accompanied by the release of acoustic energy into the Southern Ocean. Although much attention has been given to the increasing anthropogenic contributions to ocean noise, which may be as much as 12 dB over the last few decades (Hildebrand, 2009), the sounds created by ice breakup at the poles may represent an underappreciated, yet significant, natural contribution to the ocean noise budget.