> However, reducing traffic speeds in cities could be a positive intervention for enhancing access to nature. Technological solutions, such as the widespread adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles, and urban planning strategies like integrating green spaces into transit routes, offer potential opportunities to mitigate the impact of noise pollution and benefit humans in urban environments.
For me, I constantly experience acute stress from ambulance/fire/police sirens which are required by law in most cities. I wonder to what degree that contributes to overall stress compared to background traffic noise. There are also other things like honking, though it depends on the city (looking at you, NYC). I don't consciously mind as much the white-noise-ish sound of background traffic nearly as much as these sounds designed to stress me out and distract me.
I will risk and mention myNoise, but in general any field recording long takes (e.g. freetousesounds) soung good. Mind is fantastic at detecting an exactly repeated sound, so anything that avoids it.
I think many bird recordings are made to showcase songs of different species, it would be more relaxing to listen to field recordings that capture the whole soundscape.
Of course not, but there are different kinds of microphones, recording techniques, processing and editing. Some achieve interesting results. An example of field recordings of nature that I like very much is [1].
For me, I constantly experience acute stress from ambulance/fire/police sirens which are required by law in most cities. I wonder to what degree that contributes to overall stress compared to background traffic noise. There are also other things like honking, though it depends on the city (looking at you, NYC). I don't consciously mind as much the white-noise-ish sound of background traffic nearly as much as these sounds designed to stress me out and distract me.