Estimating sound pressure levels from distributed acoustic sensing data using 20 Hz fin whale calls
Léa Bouffaut, Quentin Goestchel, Robin André Rørstadbotnen, Anthony Sladen, A.H. Hartog, Holger Klinck
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.