ambientnoise

Ambient noise is the underlying background sound present in an environment. It includes natural sounds such as wind, water, and birds, as well as human-made sounds such as traffic, machinery, and voices. It forms the acoustic backdrop that shapes how other sounds are heard.

In acoustics, ambient noise is quantified with metrics such as LAeq, Lmax, and Lden. LAeq denotes the equivalent continuous A-weighted level; Lmax is the peak level; Lden applies heavier penalties for evening and night hours to reflect changes in human sensitivity.

Ambient noise varies by setting. Urban areas typically have higher levels from transportation and industry, while rural or natural environments exhibit lower levels dominated by wind, water, and wildlife. Ambient noise can be natural, or produced by devices such as fans or air conditioners.

The study of ambient noise informs environmental health, urban planning, and noise-control policy. It also supports sound design and masking techniques in offices and public spaces, where controlled ambient sound can improve speech intelligibility and perceived comfort.

See also soundscape, acoustic ecology, environmental noise.