Sound exposure level (SEL) is a
logarithmic measure of the sound exposure of a sound relative to a reference value.
Sound exposure level, denoted LE and measured in
dB, is defined by[1]
The commonly used reference sound exposure in air is[2]
The proper notations for sound exposure level using this reference are LW/(400 μPa2⋅s) or LW (re 400 μPa2⋅s), but the notations dB SEL, dB(SEL), dBSEL, or dBSEL are very common, even if they are not accepted by the SI.[3]
^Ross Roeser, Michael Valente, Audiology: Diagnosis (Thieme 2007), p. 240.
^Thompson, A. and Taylor, B. N. sec 8.7, "Logarithmic quantities and units: level, neper, bel", Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI) 2008 Edition, NIST Special Publication 811, 2nd printing (November 2008), SP811
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