On the prospects for acoustic sounding of the fine structure of the middle atmosphere

Abstract

A short historical review and an analysis of the current status of both theoretical and experimental studies of long-range sound propagation in the atmosphere are given. Basic results are provided that show how the atmospheric fine-layered structure significantly affects infrasonic pulse propagation and scattering in the lower and middle atmosphere. The effect of time variations (seasonal changes, tides, and both planetary and internal gravity waves) in the effective acoustic speed profile on the characteristics of infrasonic signals from different pulsed sources is discussed. The results of the studies of partial reflection (scattering) of low-frequency acoustic pulses from the fine-layered inhomogeneities of the middle atmosphere are presented. The results of the corresponding theoretical studies are also given. The potential of the method for long-range acoustic sounding of large-scale anisotropic turbulence (fine structure) is discussed. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.