High-latitude Observations of Infrasound from Alaska and Antarctica: Mountain Associated Waves and Geomagnetic/Auroral Infrasonic Signals

Abstract

The Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has established and operated seven different infrasonic microphone arrays in Alaska, Canada, Sweden, and Antarctica from 1965 to the present in a continuing effort to study natural sources of infrasound, at high latitudes, in the pass band from 0.015 to 10 Hz. Recently, in association with the International Monitoring System of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization [ADD REF TO CHAPTER 2], modern 8-microphone infrasound arrays, with digital data-acquisition at 20 Hz, were installed as I55US in Windless Bight, Antarctica (2001) and as I53US in Fairbanks, Alaska (2002). Coherent infrasonic signals, observed over the period 2000–2008 at both stations, are studied here for both mountain associated waves (MAW) and unique high trace-velocity signals associated with geomagnetic and auroral activity at high latitude regions.