Title: Infrasound and Gravity Waves Over the Andes Observed by a Pressure Sensor on Board a Stratospheric Balloon

Abstract

The study of infrasound (acoustic) and gravity waves sources and propagation in the atmosphere of a planet gives us precious insight on atmosphere dynamics, climate, and even internal structure. The implementation of modern pressure sensors with high rate sampling on stratospheric balloons is improving their study. In our work we analyzed the data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ultra Long Duration Balloon mission (16 May to 30 June 2016). Here, we focus on the balloon's transit of the Andes Mountains. We detected gravity waves that are associated to troposphere convective activity and mountain waves. An increase of the horizontal wavelengths from 50 to 70 km with increasing distance to the mountains is favoring the presence of mountain waves. We also report on the detection of infrasounds generated by the mountains in the 0.01–0.1 Hz range with a pressure amplitude increase by a factor 2 relative background signal. Besides, we characterized the decrease of microbaroms power when the balloon was flying away from the ocean coast. These observations suggest, in a way similar to microseisms for seismometers, that microbaroms are the main background noise sources recorded in the stratosphere even far from the ocean sources. Finally, we observed amore » broadband signal above the Andes, between 0.45 and 2 Hz, probably associated with a thunderstorm. The diversity of geophysical phenomena captured in less than a day of observation stresses the interest of high rate pressure sensors on board long-duration balloon missions.« less

Authors:

Poler, Guerman  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Poler, Guerman"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-2237-0913"

Garcia, Raphaël F.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Garcia, Raphaël F."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-1460-6663"

Bowman, Daniel C.  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Bowman, Daniel C."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-9341-520X"

Martire, Léo  ^[1]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Martire, Léo"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-9402-6150"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Toulouse Univ. (France)
2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Publication Date:

Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 EDT 2020

Research Org.:

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); French DoD; Région Occitanie; The National Centre for Space Studies (CNES)

OSTI Identifier:

1605726

Report Number(s):

SAND-2020-2463J
Journal ID: ISSN 2169-897X; 684308

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 125; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 2169-897X

Publisher:

American Geophysical Union

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; stratospheric balloon; pressure sensor; mountain gravity waves; microbaroms; thunderstorm