August 22, 2025 — The dramatic disruption of commerce and trade caused by the COVID-19 pandemic presented scientists with an unanticipated opportunity to study the decrease of human-generated noise and its impact on ocean soundscapes.
An analysis of passive acoustic data from four sites across the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans by NOAA and Oregon State University scientists demonstrated that ocean noise levels were significantly diminished during the COVID pandemic due to the abrupt slowdown of commercial ship traffic. In a new paper published in the Nature journal npj Acoustics, scientists report that ocean noise levels decreased by as much as 2 decibels (dB), or about 30%, as compared to pre- and post-pandemic years.
“The tragic COVID pandemic provided an unexpected view of the effects of reduced shipping traffic on underwater noise,” said Robert Dziak, Acoustics Program Manager for NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory(PMEL). “Our findings can help provide a scientific basis for creating quieter marine habitats, particularly in areas important for vulnerable species.”