Propagation of seismic exploration noise in the Marginal Ice Zone Free

This paper presents data from ambient noise recordings in the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) in the Fram Strait (deep water) and Barents Sea (shallow water) with focus on noise due to seismic exploration activity. Data were recorded on fields of sonobuoys deployed from P-3C aircraft in June 2011 and May 2012, each covering a 100 km x 100 km area. Recordings from three bouys in each area, from open water to within the solid ice cover, are analyzed for low-frequency (10 Hz - 1 kHz) noise levels, with noise due to distant seismic exploration identified. Attenuation of this noise component with distance into the MIZ is observed and discussed. Propagation loss in the two environments is modeled using a raytrace model with input from the TOPAZ4 coupled ocean-sea ice model and from satellite images. Properties of the noise field, modeling results, and model-data discrepancies will be discussed.