Computation of seismograms and atmospheric oscillations by normal-mode summation for a spherical earth model with realistic atmosphere

Abstract

We describe a theory to compute seismograms and atmospheric disturbances such as ionospheric oscillations or pressure variations in a realistic spherical earth model with atmosphere. This theory is valid for a source located either in the solid earth or in the atmosphere. Solid earth and atmospheric normal modes are computed for a radiation boundary condition that models the dissipation of acoustic signals in the high atmospheric of the Earth. We show that the coupling between ground and atmosphere occurs at a set of frequencies related to fundamentals and harmonics of atmospheric modes. Spheroidal modes near these frequencies have up to 0.04 per cent of their energy in the atmosphere, and thus may be strongly excited by atmospheric sources. This theory can be used for more accurate modelling of the seismic data from meteoritic events or volcanic eruptions as well as for the analysis of barograms or ionograms recorded after large earthquakes.