FIELD NOTES: ILLUMINATING ANTHROPOGENIC LIGHT POLLUTION
Researchers at Solid State Lighting Services, Inc collect skyglow data near the PacWave test site in Oregon. (Photo by Solid State Lighting Services, Inc.)
Anthropogenic light can disrupt the physiology and behavior of wildlife in marine and coastal environments. In partnership with lighting experts at Solid State Lighting Services, Inc., the Triton team is investigating potential interactions of animals and light associated with marine energy devices. The goal is to provide recommendations to industry on ways to reduce light impacts on local wildlife populations while still maintaining the necessary safety and navigation requirements.
Light Pollution Measurements were taken toward the PacWave test site and Portland, Oregon from Driftwood Beach State Park. (Figure by Morgan Pattison | Solid State Lighting Services, Inc.)
As part of this work, researchers from Solid State Lighting Services, Inc. traveled to Newport, Oregon to measure baseline light levels near the PacWave test site prior to test deployments of wave energy devices. These baseline light measurements were taken from Driftwood Beach State Park, located southeast to the test site on a clear night during a new moon using a custom, portable, and highly sensitive spectroradiometer. Their observations indicated that the site has almost pristine levels of darkness. The baseline light levels will be compared to future light measurements taken from the exact same site, orientation, and elevation to measure changes in light levels at the sea surface during wave energy converter testing activities at PacWave. Learn more about Triton’s Anthropogenic Light in the Marine Environment project.
INTRODUCING THE INTEGRATED COLLISION DETECTION AND MITIGATION PROJECT
A prototype marine mammal model to be used in flume experiments. (Photograph by Daniel Deng | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
Triton’s Integrated Collision Detection and Mitigation (ICDM) project, led by ocean engineers Molly Grear and Emma Cotter, will investigate whether it is possible to detect collisions between marine mammals and a turbine blade using integrated strain gauges. The Triton team is gearing up for experiments in the Alice C. Tyler flume at the University of Washington where they will test strain gauge capabilities, and the ability to use control systems to slow a turbine after the detection of a marine animal and reduce the impact of collision. Daniel Deng and his team at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are developing instrumented, small-scale marine mammal models—called surrogates—that will float down the flume to simulate possible collisions. The team is currently setting up experiments at the University of Washington and testing methods for deploying these marine mammal surrogates in the flume. We look forward to sharing more as this project gets underway!
TRITON NEWS
Publication in Nature Scientific Reports
Triton’s Joe Haxel co-authored a paper entitled “Effects of vessel traffic and ocean noise on gray whale stress hormones” in Nature Scientific Reports. The paper investigated physiological impacts of vessel traffic on baleen whales by measuring the adrenal stress response of gray whales to vessels along the central coast of Oregon. This paper offers important baseline information for measuring the effects of underwater noise and vessel activity associated with future marine energy deployments along the West Coast.
Environmental Effects of Marine Energy Illustrated in New Videos
PNNL and Ocean Energy Systems (OES)-Environmental collaborated on a series of educational animated videos about the effects of marine energy systems on ocean animals and habitats. The videos take a close look at underwater noise, electromagnetic fields, and habitat changes associated with marine energy devices and installations. Researchers are studying these and other impacts to inform environmentally-conscious development in this emerging industry. Watch the series now.
Triton is designed to support the development and testing of more precise and cost-effective environmental monitoring technologies for marine energy. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory leads Triton on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office.
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