Acoustic reflectivity of a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

Acoustic backscatter measurements were conducted on a stationary harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) under controlled conditions. The measurements were made with the porpoise in the broadside aspect using three different types of signals: (1) a 475 μs linear frequency-modulated (FM) pulse with a frequency range from 23 to 160 kHz; (2) a simulated bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops “truncates”) click with a peak frequency of 120 kHz; and (3) a simulated killer whale (Orcinus orca) click with a peak frequency of 60 kHz. The measurement with the FM pulse indicated that the mean target strength at the broadside aspect decreased from −26 to −50 dB as the frequency increased from 23 to 120 kHz in a nearly linear fashion (on a logarithm plot). Target strength variation with frequency was similar to a previous backscatter measurement on a bottlenose dolphin over a comparable frequency range (23–80 kHz). The porpoise seems to be a stealth body with low backscatter properties. The target strength of the porpoise was also about 15−16 dB lower than that of the bottlenose dolphin. The difference in lung volume of the two species when expressed in dB was also approximately 15 dB.