How bubble curtains protect porpoises from wind farm noise

Curated from the BBC website; How bubble curtains protect porpoises from wind farm noise, an article by Sophie Hardach 7th November 2023.

This article describes what a bubble curtain is and how it is used to protect wildlife from the noise of underwater construction, for example, when creating or moving piles for windfarms; it also comments that this initiative has been spreading over the past decade. PSI Technologies are testament to that, being involved in the early days of bubble curtain development for wildlife protection against noise during 2015/2016. That said, the concept of and technology behind bubble curtains is not new, as they were originally developed to limit oil spills.

We wrote up our story at the time, as part of the pioneering movement to protect wildlife from the noise and stress of underwater build. Read PSI’s journey here>> Subsea environmental air bubble curtain.

How bubble curtains protect porpoises from wind farm noise (source article)

As huge offshore wind farms spread across Europe’s North and Baltic seas, efforts grow to buffer the impact on wildlife.

Over the past decade, a curious invention has spread across Europe’s northern seas. It’s called a big bubble curtain, it works a bit like a giant jacuzzi, and it helps protect porpoises from the massive underwater noise caused by wind farm construction.

A very large, perforated hose is laid on the seabed, encircling the wind turbine site. Air is pumped through, and bubbles rise from the holes to the surface of the water, forming a noise-buffering veil.

The quirky gadget, also known as a big bubble veil, was pioneered in Germany to help protect the endangered harbour porpoise, the only cetacean species living in its North Sea and Baltic Sea. The bubble curtain was designed around the porpoise’s specific needs and traits, lowering wind farm construction noise to a threshold deemed safe for the species, based on scientific research. Its proven muffling effect may also benefit other marine mammals that are vulnerable to noise, such as seals.

Continue reading the source article on BBC news>>