Infrasonic Waves in Antarctica: A New Proxy for Monitoring Polar Environment
- 1 Kochi University of Technology, Kami-shi, Japan
- 2 National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
- 3 National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo, Japan
Abstract
Characteristic infrasound waves are clearly recorded at Syowa Station (SYO), East Antarctica, involving physical in teraction in surrounding environments at the continent and SouthernOcean. A Chaparral microphone type infrasound sensor is deployed at SYO during the International Polar Year (IPY2007-2008), the most diverse international science program held recently. Continuous recorded data in 2008-2010 indicate a contamination of background oceanic signals (microbaroms). The characteristic signals are identified as the “microbaroms” with peaks between 4 and 10 s in the re cords. The peak amplitudes of microbaroms may be enhanced by the extratropical cyclonic storms and wind noises in Southern Ocean. The microbaroms has relatively lower amplitudes during austral winters, which may be caused by the larger amount of the sea-ice extent around theLützow-HolmBaynear SYO, with decreasing the ocean wave loading effects. In addition, the large energy with intrinsic periods between 12 and 30 s are observable under excellent storm conditions, particularly in local winter. The oceanic effects appear ing on infrasound data are modulated by the presence of sea-ice and explained by a relationship between the atmosphere-ocean-cryosphere systems. Microbaroms measure ments could be a useful tool for characterizing ocean wave climate, as well as a new proxy for monitoring a regional environmental variation inAntarctica.
- M. Tahira, “A Study of the Infrasonic Wave in the Atmosphere-Multi-Pipe Line Microphone for Infrasonic Observation,” The Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan, Vol. 59, 1980, p. 4.
- M. Hedlin, M. Garces, H. Bass, C. Hayward, G. Herrin, J. V. Olson and C. Wilson, “Listening to the Secret Sounds of Earth’s Atmosphere,” Eos Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, Vol. 83, No. 48, 2002, pp. 564-565.
- R. S. Matoza, M. Hedlin and M. A. Garces, “An Infrasound Array Study of Mount St. Helens,” Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, Vol. 160, No. 3-4, 2007, pp. 249-262. doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2006.10.006
- M. Garces, D. Fee, A. Steffke, D. McCormack, H. Bass, C. Hetzer, M. Hedlin and R. Matoza, “Capturing the Acoustic Fingerprint of Stratospheric Ash Injection,” Eos Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, Vol. 89, No. 40, 2008, pp. 377-378. doi:10.1029/2008EO400001
- S. J. Arrowsmith, M. Hedlin, L. Ceranna and W. Edwards, “An Analysis of Infrasound Signals from the June 3rd, 2004 Fireball Over Washington State,” InfraMatics, Vol. 10, 2005, pp. 14-21.
- A. Le Pichon, E. Blanc and D. Drob, “Probing High-Altitude Winds Using Infrasound,” Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 110, No. D13, 2005, Article ID: D20104. doi:10.1029/2005JD006020
- C. R. Wilson, “Infrasound from Auroral Electrojet Motions at I53US,” InfraMatics, Vol. 10, 2005, pp. 1-13.
- T. Iyemori, M. Nose, D. S. Han, Y. Gao, M. Hashizume, N. Choosakul, H. Shinagawa, Y. Tanaka, M. Utsugi, A. Saito, H. McCreadie, Y. Odagi and F. Yang, “Geomagnetic Pulsations Caused by the Sumatra Earthquake on December 26, 2004,” Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 32, 2005, Article ID: L20807. doi:10.1029/2005GL024083
- N. Arai, M. Iwakuni, S. Watada, Y. Imanishi, T. Murayama and M. Nogami, “Atmospheric Boundary Waves Excited by the Tsunami Generation Related to the 2011 Great Tohoku-Oki Earthquake,” Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 38, 2011, Article ID: L00G18. doi:10.1029/2011GL049146
- Y. Ishihara, M. Furumoto, S. Sakai and S. Tsukuda, “The 2003 Kanto Large Bolide’s Trajectory Determined from Shockwaves Recorded by a Seismic Network and Images Taken by a Video Camera,” Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 31, 2004, Article ID: L14702. doi:10.1029/2004GL020287
- M.-Y. Yamamoto, Y. Ishihara, Y. Hiramatsu, K. Kitamura, M. Ueda, Y. Shiba, M. Furumoto and K. Fujita, “Detection of Acoustic/Infrasonic/Seismic Waves Generated by Hypersonic Reentry of HAYABUSA Capsule and Fragmented Parts of Spacecraft,” Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan, Vol. 63, No. 5, 2011, pp. 971-978.