May 23, 2012
Letters, Massachusetts

Turbine sound comes from any direction

www.southcoasttoday.com | 23 May 2012

Commercial wind turbines make the most noise from the sides as the air rushes down the blades. The side is much louder than being behind the turbine. The trailing air from the blades creates a rope effect of air following the blades. This is the whoop sound in your home. The higher the wind speed the more air flow.

The noise affect is called a “random assault” because as the turbine moves around with the wind the homes to the side of the turbines are the most affected. If the wind blows from one direction for several days those homes to the sides of the turbines become “hot spots.” The hot spots can change at random as does the wind.

Wind turbines make different types of sound, including broadband, infrasonic, impulsive, and tonal sound. To some people it sounds like a pair sneakers in a clothes dryer and others never hear it.

Frank Haggerty

Mattapoisett


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/23/turbine-sound-comes-from-any-direction/