Influence of thermal stratification and storms on acoustic telemetry detection efficiency: a year-long test in the US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight
Abstract Background The detection efficiency of ultrasonic transmitters is seasonally variable, requiring long-term studies to evaluate key environmental features that mask, alter speed, bend, or reflect transmissions. The US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight shelf is characterized by a strong summer ther...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Animal Biotelemetry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-021-00233-3 |
| _version_ | 1829486483889717248 |
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| author | Michael H. P. O’Brien David H. Secor |
| author_facet | Michael H. P. O’Brien David H. Secor |
| author_sort | Michael H. P. O’Brien |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The detection efficiency of ultrasonic transmitters is seasonally variable, requiring long-term studies to evaluate key environmental features that mask, alter speed, bend, or reflect transmissions. The US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight shelf is characterized by a strong summer thermocline capping remnant winter water, known as the Cold Pool, and a well-mixed water column in other seasons. To investigate the effects of interactions between temperature stratification and storm-induced noise on transmission detectability, we conducted a year-long range test of 69-kHz acoustic transmitters in the bottom waters of the US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight. We used generalized additive models and cross-validation to develop and evaluate a predictive model of detection efficiency and visualize variability in detection distance throughout the year of deployment. Results The most-predictive model contained the effects of temperature stratification and ambient noise, predicting that stratification results in a 33% increase in detectability and 56% increase in detection distance. The model had an overall error rate of 17.1% and an 18.7% error at a distance of 800 m, predicting 17% detectability at median ambient noise when the water column was not stratified and > 50% when the difference between surface and bottom temperatures was greater than 4.2 °C. The distance at 50% detectability increased with the formation of the Cold Pool during spring, increasing by nearly 300 m over 3 days. All seasons were associated with storm-induced reductions in overall detectability and distance at 50% detectability. Conclusion Thermal stratification within the Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight increases bottom water ultrasonic transmitter detection distance and reduces the impact of surface noise. This effect leads to a seasonal increase in detection distance from the late-spring through the summer. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report and quantify an increase in detection range as a result of temperature stratification, likely due to placing transmitters and receivers on the same side of a strong thermocline. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T23:06:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-81e8bfcf2231408eb6b7fbc6121c1e5d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-3385 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T23:06:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Biotelemetry |
| spelling | doaj.art-81e8bfcf2231408eb6b7fbc6121c1e5d2022-12-21T22:44:17ZengBMCAnimal Biotelemetry2050-33852021-02-019111210.1186/s40317-021-00233-3Influence of thermal stratification and storms on acoustic telemetry detection efficiency: a year-long test in the US Southern Mid-Atlantic BightMichael H. P. O’Brien0David H. Secor1Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceChesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental ScienceAbstract Background The detection efficiency of ultrasonic transmitters is seasonally variable, requiring long-term studies to evaluate key environmental features that mask, alter speed, bend, or reflect transmissions. The US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight shelf is characterized by a strong summer thermocline capping remnant winter water, known as the Cold Pool, and a well-mixed water column in other seasons. To investigate the effects of interactions between temperature stratification and storm-induced noise on transmission detectability, we conducted a year-long range test of 69-kHz acoustic transmitters in the bottom waters of the US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight. We used generalized additive models and cross-validation to develop and evaluate a predictive model of detection efficiency and visualize variability in detection distance throughout the year of deployment. Results The most-predictive model contained the effects of temperature stratification and ambient noise, predicting that stratification results in a 33% increase in detectability and 56% increase in detection distance. The model had an overall error rate of 17.1% and an 18.7% error at a distance of 800 m, predicting 17% detectability at median ambient noise when the water column was not stratified and > 50% when the difference between surface and bottom temperatures was greater than 4.2 °C. The distance at 50% detectability increased with the formation of the Cold Pool during spring, increasing by nearly 300 m over 3 days. All seasons were associated with storm-induced reductions in overall detectability and distance at 50% detectability. Conclusion Thermal stratification within the Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight increases bottom water ultrasonic transmitter detection distance and reduces the impact of surface noise. This effect leads to a seasonal increase in detection distance from the late-spring through the summer. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report and quantify an increase in detection range as a result of temperature stratification, likely due to placing transmitters and receivers on the same side of a strong thermocline.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-021-00233-3Acoustic telemetryRange testingDetection efficienyUS mid-Atlantic BightCold PoolTelemetry array |
| spellingShingle | Michael H. P. O’Brien David H. Secor Influence of thermal stratification and storms on acoustic telemetry detection efficiency: a year-long test in the US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight Animal Biotelemetry Acoustic telemetry Range testing Detection efficieny US mid-Atlantic Bight Cold Pool Telemetry array |
| title | Influence of thermal stratification and storms on acoustic telemetry detection efficiency: a year-long test in the US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight |
| title_full | Influence of thermal stratification and storms on acoustic telemetry detection efficiency: a year-long test in the US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight |
| title_fullStr | Influence of thermal stratification and storms on acoustic telemetry detection efficiency: a year-long test in the US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of thermal stratification and storms on acoustic telemetry detection efficiency: a year-long test in the US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight |
| title_short | Influence of thermal stratification and storms on acoustic telemetry detection efficiency: a year-long test in the US Southern Mid-Atlantic Bight |
| title_sort | influence of thermal stratification and storms on acoustic telemetry detection efficiency a year long test in the us southern mid atlantic bight |
| topic | Acoustic telemetry Range testing Detection efficieny US mid-Atlantic Bight Cold Pool Telemetry array |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-021-00233-3 |
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