A novel field study by Jaewon Saw, Linqing Luo, Kristy Chu, John Ryan, Kenichi Soga, and Yuxin Wu has been published in Seismological Research Letters. The paper, “Distributed Acoustic Sensing for Whale Vocalization Monitoring: A Vertical Deployment Field Test,” explores the use of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) for detecting whale vocalizations using a vertically deployed fiber-optic cable.
Study Overview
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Vertical DAS deployment: Fiber-optic cable coiled and lowered vertically from a moving boat in Monterey Bay, with each meter acting as an independent hydrophone.
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Field environment: The test monitored regions known for whale activity, providing real-world conditions to evaluate DAS capabilities.
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Validation methods: DAS data were compared against traditional hydrophones to confirm sensitivity and accuracy in detecting whale sounds.
Key Results
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Clear detection of whale vocalizations, including precise timing and depth information.
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Spatial mapping: DAS provided detailed time–depth profiles of whale calls, outperforming conventional hydrophone setups.
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Noise handling: Looping sections of the fiber helped reduce cable vibrations and noise, improving signal quality.
Broader Impact
This landmark test shows that vertically deployed DAS systems can serve as effective, multi-depth acoustic sensors in marine environments. The work bridges geotechnical sensing and marine biology, showcasing new opportunities for passive acoustic monitoring—especially relevant for environmental monitoring around offshore infrastructure.