S001-0001
Results and Recommendations of the Infrasound Propagation Working Group

Monday, 7 December 2020
Poster
David Fee1, Roger Waxler2, Robin S Matoza3 and Jordan W Bishop1, (1)University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute, Fairbanks, AK, United States, (2)University of Mississippi, University, MS, United States, (3)University of California, Santa Barbara, Department of Earth Science and Earth Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
Abstract:
Recent advances in acoustic wave propagation modeling have resulted in tested and validated software packages, and good progress has been achieved in modeling infrasound wave propagation over a variety of source-receiver distances. Atmospheric specifications and limited source models are also available as inputs to these software packages. However, it is clear that observations often do not match models, even with multiple infrasound arrays at regional distances or when high-quality meteorological data is incorporated for propagation over a few kilometers. The infrasound community has, at times, struggled to get coherent, consistent results, and many unknowns and uncertainties exist to-date. Improvements in infrasound propagation modeling will lead to substantial progress in characterizing explosive sources.

The Infrasound Propagation Working Group (IPWG) was formed in early 2020 to assess the current state of infrasound propagation modeling and guide future research and development. The primary goals of the working group were to 1) assess current infrasound propagation research, 2) identify gaps and deficiencies and 3) clearly define a path to produce robust, reliable infrasound propagation software tools. In this presentation, we present the initial results and recommendations of the IPWG obtained through a survey to infrasound specialists, in-person meeting of the IPWG, and background research by the IPWG leaders. We find that a variety of short- and long-term projects would greatly benefit the field of infrasound. High-priority recommendations are to 1) incorporate uncertainty into the atmospheric models; 2) address topography and 3-D (out-of-plane) effects; 3) form a university consortium to disseminate key information on infrasound propagation codes; 4) improve code benchmarking, validation, and documentation; and 5) integrate source complexity. We also introduce a set of standard protocols that we suggest current and future codes should follow to facilitate ease-of-use and portability.

Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited

Funding for this effort was provided by the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)

UNCLASSIFIED

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