Worldwide observations of infrasonic waves

Abstract

The international monitoring system (IMS) is designed to ensure compliance with the comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty (CTBT). The infrasound component of the IMS consists of a 60-station network of infrasound monitoring stations distributed uniformly over the face of the globe. This network is designed to reliably detect and locate atmospheric nuclear explosion. IMS infrasound monitoring stations are located in a wide variety of environments ranging from the hot and humid equatorial tropics, to barren wind-swept deserts and the ice-covered wastes of the Polar regions. A large number of signals from a wide variety of sources have been recorded at IMS infrasound stations. Some types of signal are routinely detected at all stations, while other types may be unique to a particular station or region. This chapter provides a thorough survey of the various types of infrasonic signals that have been detected at stations in the global network and a discussion of the potential benefits of the use of infrasonic data from this unique global network in international scientific projects and in geophysical hazard warning systems. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.