Great Basin National Park: Acoustic Monitoring Report 2015

Pipkin, Ashley; Meyer, Erik

doi:10.36967/2318205

This study was initiated in response to Technical Assistance Request 1097 from Great Basin National Park (GRBA) to collect baseline acoustic data across various park management zones. The request supports the GRBA Foundation Document, which identifies solitude as a fundamental park resource and emphasizes the importance of soundscape monitoring. Therefore, during late summer in 2015, the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division (NSNSD) gathered acoustical data at three sites in GRBA to provide park managers with information about the acoustical environment, sources of noise, and the existing ambient sound levels within the park. On average, noise was present from 25.8 (Decathon) to 96.6 (Visitor Center) percent of that time across 3 sites. The most common sources of noise were aircraft, motors, and vehicles. The maximum percent time audible of aircraft noise was at Decathon, audible for 25.8% of a 24-hr period. For motor noise at the Visitor Center, the maximum time audible was 62.6% of a 24-hr period, and for vehicle noise at the Visitor Center, the maximum time audible was 38.8% of a 24-hr period. Overall, existing ambient sound levels (LA50) at sites within GRBA ranged from 25.6 to 32.5 dB during the day and 20.4–39.6 dB at night during the sampling period. Natural ambient sound levels (LAnat) at sites within GRBA ranged from 24.6 to 26.5 dB during the day and 19.8–35.3 dB at night. The median impact across all sites, defined as the difference in dB between the LA50 and LAnat, was 1.4 dB, reducing the listening area by 26.3%. Finally, noise impacts ranged from 0.6 dB at Shingle Creek to 5.5 dB at the Visitor Center.

Great Basin National Park: Acoustic Monitoring Report 2015

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