Other research has shown that underwater noise levels generated from pile-driving can cause significant hearing damage to marine mammals in construction area, with large whales being particularly….
This article does not paint a true picture and is therefore misleading. The inference is that fewer turbines means fewer pilings, so there is less effect on sea life. The article fails to mention that the piles for each of the larger turbines will necessarily be much more robust and/or numerous, likely resulting in greater direct damage to ocean life from infrasound and shock waves during turbine construction. Also; the article fails to mention infrasound production by the turbines when they are in operation. Larger turbines produce more powerful and lower frequency infrasound than smaller turbines. Lower frequencies are more problematic and dangerous. Unlike the effects of infrasound and shockwaves during construction, the effects of infrasound during operation are never ending. The prognosis is that the overall damage from larger turbines may be much greater than from more numerous smaller turbines. More study is needed, so any attempt at definitive answers is premature.
This article does not paint a true picture and is therefore misleading. The inference is that fewer turbines means fewer pilings, so there is less effect on sea life. The article fails to mention that the piles for each of the larger turbines will necessarily be much more robust and/or numerous, likely resulting in greater direct damage to ocean life from infrasound and shock waves during turbine construction. Also; the article fails to mention infrasound production by the turbines when they are in operation. Larger turbines produce more powerful and lower frequency infrasound than smaller turbines. Lower frequencies are more problematic and dangerous. Unlike the effects of infrasound and shockwaves during construction, the effects of infrasound during operation are never ending. The prognosis is that the overall damage from larger turbines may be much greater than from more numerous smaller turbines. More study is needed, so any attempt at definitive answers is premature.
It smells of bias, which is why I published, Dennis. Thanks for your comments.