Underwater Noise Characteristics of the Tidal Inlet of Zhanjiang Bay

The coupling mechanism between natural and anthropogenic noise in shallow marine areas is of great significance for maintaining the ecological safety of these regions. In this study, a section of Zhanjiang Bay’s entrance was selected as a typical research area, and environmental noise data at different depths were collected during the spring and autumn seasons. The spectral characteristics, sound pressure levels, and underwater noise frequency correlation matrices of environmental noise were analyzed to reveal the underwater noise characteristics of tidal channels in Zhanjiang Bay and their main influencing factors. The results show that underwater noise in this study area had a stable frequency band distribution. In the low-frequency range of 20–50 Hz, the main source of noise was the flow noise influenced by tides and topography, with a peak sound pressure level of approximately 97 dB. In the frequency range of 50 Hz to 500 Hz, the main noise sources were ships at sea, followed by wind-generated noise. At frequencies above 500 Hz, the noise intensity decreased. In addition, it was found that the sound pressure level in the low-frequency range had a significant correlation with the tidal level, increasing with the rise of the tide and decreasing during low tides. This study provides a research case on the impact that human noise activity has on environmental noise in shallow marine bays. These research findings can support the selection of sites and reduce construction noise from offshore wind farms, as well as ensure the acoustic ecological environment in the vicinity of marine ranches.