Abstract
We study the absorption of infrasonic waves when they are propagating in cloud media. In this case, the main mechanism of absorption is the relaxation processes associated with vapor-drop phase transitions caused by infrasonic waves. For frequencies comparable to the inverse relaxation time, the acoustic waves in a cloud medium were shown to have a noticeable dispersion. We derive an expression for the frequency-dependent effective adiabatic index linking the oscillations of pressure and density in the wave, the dispersion equation, and the expression for the absorption coefficient. For typical values of cloud parameters, the absorption coefficient was estimated to be around 0.1 km−1. We discuss observation data which indirectly confirm that clouds can considerably absorb infrasonic waves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
E. E. Gossard and W. H. Hooke, Waves in the Atmosphere: Atmospheric Infrasound and Gravity Waves: Their Generation and Propagation (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1975).
L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshits, Hydrodynamics (Nauka, Moscow, 1986) [In Russian].
S. N. Kulichkov, “On the Propagation of Lamb Waves in the Atmosphere Along the Earth Surface,” Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Fiz. Atmos. Okeana 23(12), 1251–1261 (1987).
V. I. Shaganov, “On the Theory of Sound Propagation in Fog,” Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Fiz. Atmos. Okeana 24(5), 506–512 (1988).
Yu. S. Sedunov, Physics of the Aqueous-Phase Formation in the Atmosphere (Gidrometeoizdat, Leningrad, 1972) [in Russian].
Clouds and Cloudy Atmosphere. A Handbook, Ed. by I. P. Mazin and A. Kh. Khrgian (Gidrometeoizdat, Leningrad, 1989) [in Russian].
M. Tahira, “A Study of the Infrasonic Wave in the Atmosphere. (II) Infrasonic Wave Generated by the Explosions of the Volcano Sakura-Jima,” J. Meteorol. Soc. Japan 60(3), 896–906 (1982).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Original Russian Text © P.N. Svirkunov, S.V. Kozlov, 2012, published in Izvestiya AN. Fizika Atmosfery i Okeana, 2012, Vol. 48, No. 6, pp. 698–704.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Svirkunov, P.N., Kozlov, S.V. Absorption of infrasonic waves in a cloudy medium. Izv. Atmos. Ocean. Phys. 48, 625–630 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433812060126
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433812060126