Mapping Snapping Shrimp Noise in the Indian Ocean Region

The snapping shrimp colonize warm littoral waters throughout the tropical and sub-tropical zones of the earth. The peak-to-peak source levels of a single shrimp snap have been recorded to be as high as 180 dB re 1μPa at 1m (louder than a jet at 140dB). Moreover, the combined snaps produced are essentially broadband signals and are observed to be the dominant noise source within the frequencies 2 kHz – 250 kHz. The crackling noise from these colonies often overwhelms the high frequency range ambient noise and interferes with underwater acoustic communication for humans and marine species alike. Its effect has also been seen in the IOR.