ABSTRACT
The interaction between sound waves and vegetation can be categorized in either direct acoustical effects or indirect acoustical effects. Direct effects (see Figure 4.1) are linked to two main processes, namely, redistribution of sound energy on the one hand, and absorption on the other hand. Redistribution of sound occurs by reection, diffraction, and scattering when interacting with plant elements, such as trunks, branches, twigs, and leaves. Only absorption leads to effective loss of acoustic energy, which actually means transfer to heat. Nevertheless, redistribution of sound energy can be effective to achieve noise reduction at a single receiver as well. In this chapter, measurements and numerical simulations illustrating such direct interactions are discussed.
