Effect of a Fine-Scale Layered Structure of the Atmosphere on Infrasound Signals from Fragmenting Meteoroids

Journal Article · Fri Sep 26 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Pure and Applied Geophysics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-025-03835-7· OSTI ID:2999161

Chunchuzov, Igor P. ^[1]; Popov, Oleg E. ^[1]; Silber, Elizabeth Allaryce ^[2]; Kulichkov, Segey N. ^[3]

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1. Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow (Russian Federation)
2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Western University, London, ON (Canada)
3. Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow (Russian Federation); Moscow State Univ., Moscow (Russian Federation)

We investigate the influence of a fine-scale (FS) layered structure in the atmosphere on the propagation of infrasound signals generated by fragmenting meteoroids. Using a pseudo-differential parabolic equation (PPE) approach, we model broadband acoustic signals from point sources at altitudes of 35–100 km. The presence of FS fluctuations in the stratosphere (37–45 km) and the lower thermosphere (100–120 km) modifies ray trajectories, causing multiple arrivals and prolonged signal durations at ground stations. In particular, meteoroids fragmenting at 80–100 km can produce two distinct thermospheric arrivals beyond 150 km range, while meteoroids descending to 50 km or below yield weak, long-lived arrivals within the acoustic shadow zone via antiguiding propagation and diffraction. Comparison with observed infrasound data confirms that FS-layered inhomogeneities can account for multi-arrival “N-waves,” broadening potential interpretations of meteoroid signals. The results also apply to other atmospheric-entry objects, such as sample return capsules, emphasizing how FS structure impacts shock wave propagation. In conclusion, our findings advance understanding of wavefield evolution in a layered atmosphere and have broad relevance for global infrasound monitoring of diverse phenomena (e.g., re-entry capsules, rocket launches, and large-scale explosions).

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; Russian Science Foundation (RSF); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: NA0003525
• OSTI ID: 2999161
• Report Number(s): SAND--2025-12783J; 1785713
• Journal Information: Pure and Applied Geophysics, Journal Name: Pure and Applied Geophysics; ISSN 1420-9136; ISSN 0033-4553
• Publisher: Springer
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Aeroacoustics
Atmospheric Optics
Atmospheric Science
Fine-scale layered structure
Geophysics
Meteoritics
Meteorology
acoustic shadow zone
antiwaveguiding propagation
fragmenting meteoroids
infrasound scattering
multiple arrivals
signal’s “tail”