Why is wind turbine noise noisier than other noise?

Abstract

For residents near modern wind farms wind turbine noise is more annoying than other important noise sources, when comparing equal sound levels. Acoustically this may be due to the diurnal course of the noise and the rapid fluctuation in level related to the rotation, which are not usual features of most transportation and industrial noise sources. It can also be a result of non-acoustic factors such as visual intrusion and the perceived distribution of benefits and adverse effects. In this paper the pros and cons of these possible causes will be discussed based on measurement results and surveys, and on comparisons to other industrial and transportation noise sources.