Open AccessTraveltimes for infrasonic waves propagating in a stratified atmosphere
Author(s) -
Garcés* Milton A.,
Hansen Roger A.,
Lindquist Kent G.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical journal international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0956-540X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-246x.1998.00618.x
Subject(s) - azimuth , geology , wind shear , transverse plane , wave propagation , wavefront , wind speed , atmosphere (unit) , geophysics , geodesy , physics , meteorology , optics , structural engineering , engineering
The tau– p method of Buland & Chapman (1983) is reformulated for sound waves propagating in a stratified atmosphere under the influence of a height‐dependent wind velocity profile. For a given launch angle along a specified azimuth, the ray parameter is redefined to include the influence of the horizontal wind component along the direction of wave propagation. Under the assumption of negligible horizontal wind shear, the horizontal wind component transverse to the ray propagation does not affect the direction of the wave normal, but displaces the reference frame of the moving wavefront, thus altering the observed incidence azimuth. Expressions are derived for the time, horizontal range, and transverse range of the arriving waves as a function of ray parameter. Algorithms for the location of infrasonic wave sources using the modified tau– p formulation in conjunction with regional atmospheric wind and temperature data are discussed.