n 2014, an Oregon State University autonomous seaglider survey in the Mariana Archipelago heard a new sound: a mechanical-sounding whale vocalization. They called it a “Biotwang.” Without visual observers to identify the source of the sound, they guessed that it might be made by a baleen whale, but could not determine the species. In 2018, NOAA scientists were conducting a visual and acoustic survey for marine mammals in the Mariana Archipelago. During the month-long survey, they spotted 10 different groups of Bryde’s whales. In nine of those groups they also recorded Biotwangs—solving the mystery of the source of the unique call.
Examining the Data with AI
NOAA scientists use long-term passive acoustic recorders to monitor the health and status of marine mammal populations—particularly in hard to reach, remote locations. In the North Pacific they have been deploying bottom-mounted data recorders at 13 locations since 2005. These recorders have captured more than 500 TB of data, or almost 200,000 hours of recordings. If you were to listen to all of that audio straight through it would take you almost 23 years! Because the Biotwang had not been identified before, scientists had no idea where they might find it in this sea of data.
That’s where Google stepped in. NOAA scientists worked with Google to use AI and machine learning to analyze the immense passive acoustic monitoring datasets. With the help of AI and machine learning, we were able to identify where and when Biotwangs were recorded in past acoustic data. Thanks to AI we were able to do it in a matter of hours, rather than years.
