Natural Sounds & Night Skies

For the more information about the natural sound and night sky resources of the National Park Service, please visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/naturalsounds/.

Natural soundscapes are essential for animal communication

Cannon fire demonstration at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Sound Monitoring in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Many people visit National Parks to enjoy the soothing sounds of nature

Natural Sounds

"The Natural Sounds Program works to protect, maintain, or restore acoustical environments throughout the National Park System. We work in partnership with parks and others to increase scientific understanding and inspire public appreciation of the value and character of soundscapes."

Why Protect Sound Resources?

Our ability to see is a powerful tool for experiencing our world, but sound adds a richness that sight alone cannot provide. In many cases, hearing is the only option for experiencing certain aspects of our environment. The symphony of natural sounds within our national parks is an important natural resource and a critical component of the ecological communities that parks seek to preserve. Understanding the role of sound and acoustics in a healthy ecosystem is critical to their effective management and protection.

The National Park Service Organic Act mandates the preservation and/or restoration of natural resources within parks, including the acoustical environment. Noise can impact the acoustical environment much like smog impacts the visual environment.

Acoustical Environment vs. Soundscape

The National Park Service works to protect and enhance park resources and visitor experiences, and as a result, the Natural Sounds Program differentiates between the physical sound sources and human perceptions of those sounds. The combination of physical sound resources, or acoustic resources, at a particular location comprise what is known as the acoustical environment. Acoustic resources include both natural sounds (wind, water, wildlife, vegetation) and cultural and historic sounds (battle reenactments, tribal ceremonies, quiet reverence). The human perception of the acoustical environment is referred to as the soundscape. Making this distinction between these terms will allow managers to create objectives for safeguarding both the acoustical environment and the visitor experience.