Court KOs New Jersey bid to block ocean blasting

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Court KOs New Jersey bid to block ocean blasting
Published: Monday, July 14, 2014 at 4:59 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, July 14, 2014 at 4:59 p.m.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A federal appeals court on Monday cleared the path for seismic testing off the coast of New Jersey that will blast the floor of the Atlantic Ocean with loud noises as part of a climate change research project.

The 3rd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals rejected New Jersey's request to block the testing off Long Beach Island, which aims to use acoustic research to examine sediment dating back tens of millions of years. The barrier island stretches along the central New Jersey coast for about 18 miles.

Environmentalists, fishing groups and some elected officials oppose the work, saying it could harm or kill marine life including dolphins, turtles and whales. But the groups planning the research say they will do everything possible to minimize disruptions to marine life, including stopping the project when animals are seen nearby.

"Needless to say, we are extremely disappointed with this ruling and the fact that the federal government is pushing it at this time of year," said Larry Hajna, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, which had sought a court order to block the testing.


Read more: http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20140714/APA/307149671

[rocktivity]

1. The ocean floor has to be researched for climate change?

Last edited Mon Jul 14, 2014, 10:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Sure this isn't really an offshore oil drilling expedition?


rocktivity

[truedelphi]

2. Sometimes it seems like those in power won't be happy until every iving thing on

One earth is being threatened by either War, "Science" or some Corpotate Personhood's profit margin.

[DRoseDARs]

7. Well yes, does need to be researched, just not in the most ass way possible.

I fail to see how make loud booming noises that can carry for hundreds of miles through water ("We'll stop if we see critters..." Oh you can fuck RIGHT the hell off.) are better than taking physical core samples of sediment like has been done for decades.

[cstanleytech]

8. Because it isnt just about core samples if you had actually "read" the article

"Rutgers University, the University of Texas and the National Science Foundation want to do research on sediments that have been deposited on the ocean floor as global sea levels changed over 60 million years. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration has signed off on the request.

The plan is to complete a three-dimensional map of part of the ocean floor that may offer clues as to what could happen as the ocean rises."

[DRoseDARs]

9. Complete a 3d map of your neighborhood using 200+ decibel sound waves...

...then act surprised when the neighbors get pissed you deafened their children.

This has bad idea and poor science written all over it.



And before you respond to this, I was among those mocking people having conniptions over "OMG NASA is bombing the moon?!?" some years back. I'm not a new-agey clueless git.

[cstanleytech]

13. Big difference though is my neighborhood isnt under a few hundred feet of water so

creating a map is a heck of alot easier.

[DRoseDARs]

14. Big difference in sound waves in air vs water, hence the analogy.

That difference is the central, non-minor detail at issue.





As an aside, and not meant as a snide remark so take it for its light-hearted humor, but it's "a lot."

This is an "alot"


Originates from the wonderful mind of web comic Allie Brosh
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

[freshwest]

3. WTF?

[Divernan]

4. Stopping the project when animals are "seen nearby"? Gimme a friggin' break!

Perhaps this is just incredibly sloppy reporting, but what the hell does it mean to say that "the project will be stopped when animals are seen nearby"? Does "seen" refer to eyeballing it from a surface vessel? Sonar? Can't imagine they have divers in the water when seismic testing is going on - I sure as hell wouldn't dive under such conditions.

How long does a test last? Once a test is set in motion, how possible and/or expensive would it be to halt it? How large an area will sonar cover?

Underwater visibility in Long Island Sound is 1 to 25 feet. Off the Jersey coast, it can vary tremendously depending upon the weather. Diving in New Jersey can be a very hit and miss proposition. A couple of good storms, and everything is so roiled up that there is almost no point in trying to dive anymore. From day to day the North Atlantic is extremely changeable.
Visibility

I have found no correlation between good visibility and anything else at all. Calm seas certainly don't hurt, but the worst visibility I have ever been in was with a 1 foot surf on the beach. There is however a very good correlation between bad visibility and storms, which is why a single hurricane can end the season.

Other factors which influence visibility are: algae blooms, spawning seasons of some invertebrates, which can fill the water with tiny swimmers, jellyfish ( yes, so many you can't see through them, luckily they don't sting, ) other divers churning up the bottom, and just plain gunk in the water. Sometimes in the ocean, the visibility will be different in different depth layers. I have seen the viz go from 3 ft on the way down the anchor line to 20 ft on the wreck.

http://njscuba.net/gear/trng_02_conditions.html#Visibility

Now apply this to the pelagics (large, open ocean fish/mammals) at risk from these tests. Humpback whales dive to depths of 500 to 700 feet for 15 to 30 minutes and swim at up to 15 miles an hour. Here are other speeds: Sailfish-68 mph; swordfish- 60; Marlin-50; tuna - 44; mako shark - 31; octopus - 25; dolphin - 25 mph.

There is no way that anyone can predict that in the time necessary, once the test is started, that these animals will not swim into a lethal zone. A further reasonable assumption is that the scientists, waiting for calm enough surface conditions to launch tests, are not going out to sea for a couple of minutes worth of testing. Wouldn't one reasonably expect several hours? Welcome to the Dead Zone!

Were such technicalities even raised and argued in court?

I'd surely like to know what the folks at the Scripps Oceanographic Marine Institute think of this half-assed idea. As a diver, it truly horrifies me.

[sulphurdunn]

5. Follow the money

[mopinko]

6. it seems like it could be an important project.

the whales and porpoises are usually pretty easy to spot. i have been out whale watching, and they are kinda hard to miss.

i dunno. nothing is without risk.

[Hoppy]

10. So the plan is , we're gonna learn what could happen as the ocean rises.

I'll give them a clue and it won't cost them a penny.

[swilton]

15. Precisely

The climate change deniers have been lusting for more studies rather than taking action since the IPCC (international panel on climate change) began publicizing its findings in the late 80's early 90's. And unfortunately, due to US actions to weaken the panel's findings, the reports have underestimated the severity of the problem(s).

[Number9Dream]

11. Marine Mammal Stranding Center opposes ocean blasting

I posted this in the DU New Jersey section last Friday.

Snip> Robert Schoelkopf, founding director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, explained that last year New Jersey faced the largest mortality rate of bottlenose dolphins ever, and “now we’re looking at a man-made cause to add to the decline.”

Snip> “The seismic activities, which will send loud blasts of noise into the marine environmental every five seconds for 24 hours a day for 30 consecutive days, can proceed for the time being,” COA’s Lauren Townsend explained. “These blasts have been demonstrated to cause serious harm to a variety of marine life, including whales, dolphins, turtles and fish.”

http://thesandpaper.villagesoup.com/p/state-s-request-to-halt-seismic-testing-off-lbi-is-denied/1208412

[Divernan]

12. Thanks for that info: every 5 seconds/24hrs/30 consecutive days.