Source array modelling, Southern Ionian Sea

Sound is readily transmitted underwater and there is potential for sound emissions from seismic surveys to affect marine mammals and turtles. At long ranges, the introduction of additional sound could potentially cause short-term behavioural changes, for example to the ability of cetaceans to communicate and to determine the presence of predators, food, underwater features and obstructions. At close range, and with high sound source levels, permanent or temporary hearing damage may occur; extending to possible gross physical trauma at very close range. 

The selection of an appropriate source array for seismic surveys is complex and must take into account various factors such as the physical requirements for obtaining data, which can then be balanced against potential environmental impacts. However, each source array has complex characteristics such as directivity patterns which mean it is difficult to take sound propagation effects into account during the source selection process.