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Title: Explosion-Generated Infrasound Recorded on Ground and Airborne Microbarometers at Regional Distances

Journal Article · · Seismological Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1785/0220180038· OSTI ID:1459985
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [2];  [5]
  1. Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO (United States)
  2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  3. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States)
  4. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
  5. Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO (United States); Syncroness, Inc., Westminister, CO (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Recent work in deploying infrasound (low–frequency sound) sensors on aerostats and free–flying balloons has shown them to be viable alternatives to ground stations. However, no study to date has compared the performance of surface and free–floating infrasound microbarometers with respect to acoustic events at regional (100s of kilometers) range. The prospect of enhanced detection of aerial explosions at similar ranges, such as those from bolides, has not been investigated either. We examined infrasound signals from three 1–ton trinitrotoluene (TNT) equivalent chemical explosions using microbarometers on two separate balloons at 280– to 400–km ranges and ground stations at 6.3– to 350–km ranges. Signal celerities were consistent with acoustic waves traveling in the stratospheric duct. However, significant differences were noted between the observed arrival patterns and those predicted by an acoustic propagation model. Very low–background noise levels on the balloons were consistent with previous studies that suggest wind interference is minimal on freely drifting sensors. In conclusion, simulated propagation patterns and observed noise levels also confirm that balloon–borne microbarometers should be very effective at detecting explosions in the middle and upper atmosphere as well as those on the surface.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1459985
Report Number(s):
SAND2018-4543J; 662599
Journal Information:
Seismological Research Letters, Vol. 89, Issue 4; ISSN 0895-0695
Publisher:
Seismological Society of AmericaCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 9 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Data from: Explosion-generated infrasound recorded on ground and airborne microbarometers at regional distances dataset January 2019
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Cited By (2)

Data from: Explosion-generated infrasound recorded on ground and airborne microbarometers at regional distances dataset January 2019
Numerical Simulation of the Atmospheric Signature of Artificial and Natural Seismic Events journal November 2018

Linked Research (1)

Figures / Tables (9)

Table 1(p. 16)table Table 1
Table 2(p. 16)table Table 2
Figure 1(p. 19)figure Figure 1
Figure 2(p. 20)figure Figure 2
Figure 3(p. 21)figure Figure 3
Figure 4(p. 22)figure Figure 4
Figure 5(p. 23)figure Figure 5
Figure 6(p. 24)figure Figure 6
Figure 7(p. 24)figure Figure 7

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