Global scale monitoring of acoustic and gravity waves for the study of the atmospheric dynamics

Abstract

The development of the Infrasound International Monitoring System, used for the verification of the Comprehensive nuclear Test Ban Treaty, represents a powerful tool to measure permanently, at a global scale and over large periods of time, the characteristics of the waves and dynamics of the atmosphere in relation with the climate. The first way is to monitor quasi-continuous infrasound sources such as ocean swells or volcanic eruptions to determine the fluctuations of the stratosphere and mesosphere in relation to the activity of planetary waves and large scale polar disturbances such as Vortex Intensification or Sudden Stratospheric Warming. The second way is to monitor gravity waves which are observed in the lower frequency range of the infrasound data. Large scale waves, mainly produced in tropical regions, influence the mean circulation of the middle atmosphere by transporting moment and energy from tropical to polar regions with a possible role on tropospheric climate. This paper demonstrates through different examples the potential of the network to observe these waves as well as changes in the atmospheric wave guide in relation to atmospheric parameters. As the network will provide long duration observations, it is suggested to use them to study the atmosphere in relation with the climate evolution. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.