Ekvivalenttiäänitaso

Ekvivalenttiäänitaso refers to the equivalent sound pressure level of a noise that is perceived to be as loud as a specific, often complex, noise event. This concept is used in acoustics and noise assessment to simplify the measurement and understanding of fluctuating or intermittent noise sources. Instead of describing a sound event by its varying intensity over time, a single equivalent level is used to represent its overall impact.

The calculation of ekvivalenttiäänitaso typically involves averaging the sound pressure level over a defined period. This averaging is usually done using a logarithmic scale, as human hearing perception is logarithmic. A common metric is the equivalent continuous sound level, denoted as Leq. Leq represents the steady sound level that would contain the same acoustic energy as the actual fluctuating sound over the measurement period.

This equivalent level is particularly useful for assessing environmental noise, such as traffic noise, industrial noise, or aircraft noise, where the sound levels change constantly. By using an ekvivalenttiäänitaso, regulators and researchers can establish noise limits, compare different noise sources, and evaluate the effectiveness of noise reduction measures using a single, representative value. It provides a practical way to quantify the "annoyance" or "impact" of noise in a standardized manner.