Passive acoustic data from sonobuoys deployed during the 2013 Antarctic Blue Whale Voyage

This dataset contains acoustic recordings from Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording (DIFAR) sonobuoys that were deployed during the 2013 Antarctic blue whale voyage. During the 47 day voyage 360 sonobuoys were deployed yielding 733 hours of acoustic recordings. On average, slightly more than eight sonobuoys were used per survey day. Ninety three sonobuoys were deployed in transit to or from the edge of the sea-ice while the remainder were deployed to monitor and target Antarctic blue whales. The telemetered audio from sonobuoys was monitored aurally and visually (via spectrogram) in real-time by one or more on-duty acousticians. A total team of five dedicated acousticians monitored round-the-clock for blue whales and in all weather conditions. Upon detection of blue whale vocalisations the vessel was directed towards the locations of these sounds.

After deployment, sonobuoys sent acoustic and directional data to the ship via a VHF radio transmitter. Radio signals from the sonobuoy were received using an omnidirectional VHF antenna (PCTel Inc. MFB1443; 3 dB gain tuned to 144 MHz centre frequency) and pre-amplifier (Minicircuits Inc. ZX60-33LN-S+) mounted on the mast of the ship at a height of 21 m. The preamplifier was connected to a power splitter via LMR400 cable and signals were received with two WiNRaDiO G39WSBe sonobuoy receivers. The radio signal from sonobuoys was adequate for monitoring and localization out to a typical range of 12-15 nmi. Received signals were digitised via a sound board (RME Fireface; RME Inc.), and signals were recorded on a personal computer using the software program PAMGuard (Gillespie et al. 2008). Three models of sonobuoys were used during the voyage: 79 were AN/SSQ-53D (Ultra Electronics, Canada), 81 were AN/SSQ-53F (Ultra Electronics: SonobuoyTechSystems, USA) and 200 were AN/SSQ-955-HIDAR (deployed in DIFAR compatibility mode; Ultra Electronics Sonar Systems, UK).

In addition to recording of Antarctic blue whale song, New Zealand type blue whale song, and blue whale "D-call" vocalisations, these recordings also contain vocalisations from fin whales, humpback whales, sei whales, killer whales, sperm whales, as well as low frequency sounds from Antarctic sea ice.

本数据集包含2013年南极蓝鲸科考航次中部署的定向频率分析与记录（Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording，DIFAR）型声呐浮标的声学录音数据。本次航次为期47天，共部署360枚声呐浮标，累计获取733小时的声学录音，每个调查日平均使用声呐浮标略多于8枚。其中93枚声呐浮标用于往返海冰边缘的航渡阶段，剩余浮标则用于监测并定位南极蓝鲸。声呐浮标的遥测音频由当班声学专家通过听觉与可视化（通过语谱图）方式进行实时监测。由5名专职声学专家组成的团队全天候值守，在各类气象条件下持续监测蓝鲸发声，一旦监测到蓝鲸发声，科考船将被引导至声源所在位置。

声呐浮标部署后，通过甚高频（VHF）无线电发射机将声学与方位数据传输至科考船。科考船桅杆21米高处安装的全向甚高频天线（PCTel Inc. MFB1443；中心频率调谐至144 MHz，增益3 dB）与前置放大器（Minicircuits Inc. ZX60-33LN-S+）用于接收声呐浮标的无线电信号。前置放大器通过LMR400线缆与功率分配器相连，通过两台WiNRaDiO G39WSBe型声呐浮标接收机接收信号。声呐浮标的无线电信号可覆盖12~15海里的典型监测与定位范围。接收信号通过声卡（RME Fireface；RME Inc.）进行数字化处理，并由个人计算机通过PAMGuard软件（Gillespie等人，2008）进行录制。本次航次共使用三种型号的声呐浮标：79枚为AN/SSQ-53D型（加拿大Ultra Electronics公司），81枚为AN/SSQ-53F型（美国Ultra Electronics SonobuoyTechSystems公司），200枚为AN/SSQ-955-HIDAR型（以DIFAR兼容模式部署；英国Ultra Electronics Sonar Systems公司）。

本数据集除录制南极蓝鲸鸣声、新西兰型蓝鲸鸣声以及蓝鲸“D呼叫”发声外，还包含长须鲸、座头鲸、塞鲸、虎鲸、抹香鲸的发声，以及南极海冰产生的低频声学信号。