Sequoia National Park

Measurement and Analysis of Environmental Acoustics in Sequoia National
Park: A Soundscape Perspective

Bernie Krause (Wild Sanctuary Inc) obtained resources from the National
Park Service to conduct acoustic measurements in Sequoia National Park. After the NPS accepted Krause's proposal, Gage was invited to join Krause to consult on development of the sampling strategies and analytical methodologies. Gage and Krause met on several occasions to devise an operational protocol to perform acoustic sampling of several habitats in Sequoia National Park. This protocol included the selection of the habitats that represent the variety of soundscape characteristics within Sequoia National Park, and the timing of the recordings to maximize the amount of acoustic data gathered. Gage and Krause selected four distinct habitats in the park representing different vegetation and landscape characteristics. These were high-elevation vegetation (Shepard Saddle); oak-savanna (Sycamore Spring); riparian woodland (Buckeye Flat); and old growth forest-meadow (Crescent Meadow). The sampling design that ensued dictated that personnel make recordings at four different diurnal times (dawn, midday, dusk and night) at four different seasonal times (fall, winter, spring, and summer). These timings present a rough representation of the Park's soundscape at distinct diurnal and seasonal positions. Gage and Krause determined that a recording sample of one hour would represent the soundscape at each period.

In addition to the recordings of acoustics at each of the sites, Gage took pictures of the people, the sites where recordings were made and additional imagery of the parks ecological characteristics. The recordings and the analysis of them are placed on this web site to provide and overview of the project and the acoustical nature of Sequoia National park. Each 1-hour recording was sub-sampled at 5 minute intervals for 30 seconds. Data for each of the 4 sites is presented in this web site for 4 times per day during each of the 4 seasons of the year. This web site was designed and developed by Deepa Chandramouli under the direction of Stuart Gage. The images and acoustics are the property of Wild Sanctuary and Michigan State University and images and acoustics are not to be downloaded without permission, in writing, by the authors.