Ballroom Music Spillover into a Beluga Whale Aquarium Exhibit

Abstract EN

It is not uncommon for modern aquaria to be built with special entertainment areas.

There are no known measurements of sound spillover from such entertainment areas into underwater animal exhibits.

Entertainment organizations typically prefer to play music for events at 95 and 100 dBA in a ballroom at Georgia Aquarium.

Concern over the potential effects of the music and noise on animals in adjacent exhibits inspired an initial project to monitor and compare sound levels in the adjacent underwater exhibits against the typical in-air sound levels of the ballroom.

Measured underwater noise levels were compared to modeled levels based on finite element analysis and plane wave transmission loss calculations through the acrylic viewing window.

Results were compared with the model to determine how, if at all, the ambient noise level in the Cold Water Quest exhibit changed as a result of music played in the ballroom.