Underwater noise

Boats, ships, and underwater structures (such as wind turbine foundations) generate significant noise that can travel long distances due to the high speed of sound in water. A large fraction of low-frequency noise also penetrates into the seafloor, where it interacts with sediments and bedrock layers.

Traditional modeling tools, based on ray methods or parabolic-equation (PE) models, can handle deep-water conditions but struggle in shallow and coastal waters. In these environments, reflections, refraction, complex 3D topography, and variable seabed materials strongly influence how sound propagates.

SoundSim360 uses a high-fidelity finite-difference solution of the full 3D acoustic wave equation, capturing realistic boundary conditions and environmental physics. This enables accurate predictions of underwater noise in coastal zones, where many marine species live and are most vulnerable to disturbance.

Underwater noise is now recognized as a form of pollution that poses risks to marine life across the food chain. From motorboats in sensitive habitats to offshore wind farms, SoundSim360 provides the reliable simulations needed to understand, predict, and mitigate acoustic impacts on the ocean environment.

The animation below illustrates low-frequency noise from a submarine on the seafloor off the coast of Gotland, Sweden. The simulation was performed using SoundSim360 and incorporates a moving sound source and heterogeneous speed of sound, density, and attenuation in both the water and seafloor.