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dBSea Documentation

Marine Species Weightings

This page shows the weighting curves for various species of fish and marine mammals, which can be selected from the database using the dropdown box. The None entry may also be selected when no weighting is desired.

The currently selected weighting curve is applied throughout the program to calculate weighted levels. The levels displayed in the main graphic window are weighted levels.

When exporting levels, overall weighted levels are exported. However, if spectra are included, the individual frequency components within each spectrum are exported as raw, unweighted levels.

Weighting in Time-Domain Solves

Section titled “Weighting in Time-Domain Solves”

For time-domain solves, weighting behaviour depends on the metric type, following NOAA/NMFS guidance:

  • SEL (time): The selected weighting curve is applied per frequency band before summing, consistent with the standard filterbank approach.
  • SPL peak / peak-to-peak: No weighting is applied. Peak SPL is an unweighted (flat) metric under NOAA/NMFS guidance — the broadband peak pressure is reported directly.

See Solvers → Species Weighting in Time-Domain Solves for more detail.