Infrasonic signature of the 2009 major sudden stratospheric warming

Abstract

The study of infrasound is experiencing a renaissance since it was chosen as a verification technique for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The success of the verification technique strongly depends on knowledge of upper atmospheric processes. The ability of infrasound to probe the upper atmosphere starts to be exploited, taking the field beyond its monitoring application. Processes in the stratosphere couple to the troposphere and influence our daily weather and climate. Infrasound delivers actual observations on the state of the stratosphere with a high spatial and temporal resolution. Here we show the infrasonic signature, passively obtained, of a drastic change in the stratosphere due to the major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) of January 2009. With this study, we infer the enormous capacity of infrasound in acoustic remote sensing of stratospheric processes on a global scale with surface based instruments. © 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.