Infrasonic Waves — Interaction with the Atmosphere

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper is to review known facts about common types of high intensity infrasonic sources and discuss their possible effects on the atmosphere. The discussion will be limited to frequencies above 0,01 Hz. Infrasonic waves with frequencies below 4 Hz, if launched at sufficiently large angle from the vertical direction will be reflected and will propagate to large distances in the waveguide created by the reflecting layer and the earth surface, (see Fig. 1). Waves propagated in directions close to the vertical direction will be dissipated in the atmosphere at heights where the wave frequency is close to the collision frequency. The wave energy will there be converted into heat and will thus rise the local temperature. At distances large in comparison with the height of the waveguide, the sound intensity on the ground will be proportional to 1/R (R-distance to the source).