The loud noises of construction are not just an issue for humans. Sound and pressure waves from underwater construction are a problem for water-dwellers, too. So engineers use bubble curtains around a construction site to help reduce the amount of sound that escapes. Water and air transmit sound very differently; in acoustic terms, they have very different impedance. You’ve probably experienced this yourself if you’ve ever compared the sounds of a swimming pool above and below the surface. Because some of a sound’s intensity gets lost in the water –> air –> water transition, a bubble curtain can halve the sound pressure transmitted from equipment. (Video and image credit: Practical Engineering)
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