This chapter from Sea-Tac Airport's 2013 Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study explains how aircraft noise is measured and analyzed around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It covers the basic properties of sound—including loudness, pitch, and duration—and explains why noise is measured on the logarithmic decibel (dB) scale rather than a standard linear scale. The chapter also outlines how noise contour modeling was conducted to assess the real-world impact of aircraft operations on surrounding communities.Open full document
Notes
Chapter three of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study Update, prepared by Landrum & Brown. The chapter covers the characteristics of sound, factors influencing human response to noise, health effects, standard noise descriptors, federal laws and policies related to noise, and baseline noise exposure methodology and results. It includes background on decibel measurement, logarithmic scale properties, and a comparison of common indoor and outdoor sound levels.