The typical sound levels of ocean background noises at different frequencies, as measured by Wenz (1962). This graph is therefore also referred to as the Wenz curves. The sound levels are given in underwater dB summed over 1 Hz wide frequency bands, which is often written as dB re 1 µPa2/Hz. Reprinted with permission from National Research Council. 2003. Ocean Noise and Marine Mammals. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. (as adapted from Wenz, 1962) by the National Academy of Sciences.

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