Low frequency ambient noise dynamics and trends in the Indian Ocean, Cape Leeuwin, Australia

Examination of 18 years of nearly continuous low frequency deep ocean ambient noise offshore Cape Leeuwin, Australia, finds evidence of a decreasing nonlinear trend suggestive of long-term cyclic dynamics. The nonlinear trend is found to be consistent with trends in oceanographic sea surface temperature, which are thought to drive changes in Antarctic sea ice extent. Assessment of oscillatory dynamics finds causal covariance between ambient noise levels and Indian Ocean sea surface temperature dipoles. Dynamics of annual ambient noise and Antarctic sea ice extent are examined suggesting a phase-locked relationship revealing nonlinear characteristics of the presumed dependence. Collectively, the hypotheses that deep water ambient noise dynamics in the Indian Ocean are influenced by Antarctic sea ice extent and melt dynamics and that linear models do not fully capture long-term ambient noise trends and dynamics are supported.