Soundscape of a wind farm - The cape bridgewater experience

Abstract

The general concept for describing the noise environment in proximity to a wind farm is expressed in terms of the A-weighted level that will vary dependent upon the wind strength. The compliance methodology in general use for wind farms relies upon a measurement that includes wind and an average line of fit through such data. Measurements at residential receivers when conducted using full spectrum recording/analysis revealed unique characteristics extending into the infrasound region that are normally inaudible that would appear to be present when disturbance is noted. There are no traditional dose-response investigations for the full spectrum of wind farm noise on which to describe the soundscape. A different approach to assessing wind farm noise emissions was used for the Cape Bridgewater wind farm study identifying different concepts for describing the soundscape of the wind farm.