Upper Atmosphere Heating From Ocean-Generated Acoustic Wave Energy

Bowman, D. C.; Lees, J. M.

doi:10.1029/2018GL077737

Upper Atmosphere Heating From Ocean-Generated Acoustic Wave Energy

Journal Article · Fri Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL077737· OSTI ID:1441465

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Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States). Department of Geological Sciences

We present that colliding sea surface waves generate the ocean microbarom, an acoustic signal that may transmit significant energy to the upper atmosphere. Previous estimates of acoustic energy flux from the ocean microbarom and mountain-wind interactions are on the order of 0.01 to 1 mW/m², heating the thermosphere by tens of Kelvins per day. We captured upgoing ocean microbarom waves with a balloon-borne infrasound microphone; the maximum acoustic energy flux was approximately 0.05 mW/m². This is about half the average value reported in previous ground-based microbarom observations spanning 8 years. The acoustic flux from the microbarom episode described here may have heated the thermosphere by several Kelvins per day while the source persisted. Lastly, we suggest that ocean wave models could be used to parameterize acoustically generated heating of the upper atmosphere based on sea state.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 1441465

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1438084

Report Number(s):: SAND--2018-4089J; 662763

Journal Information:: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 45; ISSN 0094-8276

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Data from: Upper atmosphere heating from ocean-generated acoustic wave energy Bowman, Daniel C.; Lees, Jonathan M. Dryad Digital Repository-Supplementary information for journal article at DOI: 10.1029/2018gl077737, 9 files https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.40877s4	dataset	April 2018
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