Estimating sound pressure levels from distributed acoustic sensing data using 20 Hz fin whale calls.

Abstract

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a promising technology for underwater acoustics, but its instrumental response is still being investigated to enable quantitative measurements. We use fin whale 20 Hz calls to estimate the conversion between DAS-recorded strain and acoustic pressure. Our method is tested across three deployments on varied seafloor telecommunication cables and ocean basins. Results show that after accounting for well-established DAS response factors, a unique value for water compressibility provides a good estimate for the conversion. This work represents a significant step forward in characterizing DAS for marine monitoring and highlights potential limitations related to instrument noise floor.