So, it's not like an additional similar noise to what they've been used to, just less polluting and dangerous for their cat. It's a new noise level they're forced to put up with.
Even if it compared it wouldn't make it much better, because those islands don't have any sizable traffic on roads - and almost insignificant near those villages.
So, its like suddenly they have to put up with road-level noise (if not worse), on their remote village in some remote island - and not even from their own cars.
At those distances it's like suddenly all around your village there's a airconditioner-level noise... Mighty annoying to people who have enjoyed mostly nature-level silence for all of their lives...
Not at all. Db is not linear, so "suddenly have to put up with" "about 1/4 of the noise." Would be more accurate.
An example difference of 12db is a muffled idling compact car versus a consumer lawnmower at 10'.
Yeah, I know what a difference of -Xdb is, as I do audio production work. Another example of 12db difference is a blender vs a vacuum cleaner. But despite it being -12db lower (or even a little more), I wouldn't stand to listen to the latter, still. So it's not just the difference that matters, it's the initial level.
The actual noise level they now have to put up with didn't exist in their village, and what did exist didn't have the specific sound / frequency distribution - so it's still annoying - maddening even, if you need to suffer because some others decided to put those things a few hundred meters near you.
Average noise level doesn't tell you the frequency spectrum; the low frequency noise from (aircraft, roads, power plants, etc.) is particularly unbearable, and inescapable even inside sound-insulated buildings, while the high frequency noise from (aircraft, turbines, 24/7 emergency vehicles, etc.) hits the 5KHz "crying baby" peak of sensitivity in human hearing.
[0]: https://scholar.smu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1547&con...
That is statistics as blurred images :) Compare 55dB of, say, so-called "musical impressionism" to 43db of "hardcore techno"...
I mainly wanted to do a dB comparison so there's a reference to how this 'torture' compares to other, normal experiences. If they had made this point of fact explicit in the article, then maybe they would have went on to explain how the particular sound profile of the wind turbines was somehow worse (hopefully with evidence!) than it seems at first blush.
Since they didn't, it's pretty clear to me that the writer or editor has either woeful research practices, deficient intellect, or a private interest. My money is on the last one: lots of wealthy, well-connected people own holiday homes that lose value when people build turbines near them.
What?!?!?!? I clearly stated it: sound amplitude has nothing to do with it - that can be a source of torture, or may not: it is the shape and duration of the sound.
If you thought that this 'torture' can be compared to other experiences through a dB value, you are not entitled to write about deficiency.
Be informed: certain noise is a nuisance with one wearing white noise inside earmuffs over earpugs. That abates decibels, yet can make the effect even worse.
They have not «went on to explain how the particular sound profile of the wind turbines» because it's not needed at all, you do not normally need to convince the public: if you yourself do not believe that those things are a nuisance, go listen to one! And even if someone played "bearable", you know: that's your feeling, go live or just stay near one if you want; others have passed by them, remained in shock, and now avoid them, with some relative difficulty, because there are territories around the world that do not offer that much space left, which increases the fear as "deficient intellects" are all around and many voices has raised lately "let us multiply those turbines", which translates to some as "let us adopt silver bullet solutions which are popular: let us give the public what they want", "careful what you wish for" for "deficient intellects".
If a speaker is naive in thinking that the public can receive a message, that is not even 'intellect' at fault - it's 'outellect'. The inside may work very well, it's the outside that does not duly reflect expectations.
Moreover, it's obviously important to include, in an article about noise 'torture', that these noises are by no means loud noises, just so your audience get an actual picture of what's going on.
PS: I just realised, you thought my post was talking about you, and not the writer of the article! Apologies for offense caused: I was being rude about the journalist, not about you. Unless you are the journalist, in which case, offense absolutely meant.
PS: checked it out myself, from some light googling:
Road decibel levels are about 55 dB (averaged over a day) for about 30% of the EU population.
Wind turbines are supposedly 43 decibels if they are within a few hundred meters of a house. I guess it probably varies a lot depending on the turbine in question.