ACOUSTIC-GRAVITY WAVES IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to obtain a panoramic view of acoustic-gravity-wave motions throughout the atmosphere. A one-dimensional array of particles and springs, conceived by Newton to study sound waves in the atmosphere, was extended to two dimensions by means of 1500 particles interconnected by springs. Variations of density and pressure with altitude are represented by variations in mass and spring constants. This new model has provided means by which acoustic-gravity-wave motions in the atmosphere are solved on a high-speed digital computer, and a new animated-computer-output technique is used. A motion picture--automatically plotted by the computer, a frame at a time--provides greater detail and perspective of mechanical wave motions in the atmosphere than has ever been obtainable before. Ground-level and 100-km-high explosions were investigated with this computer model, and the resulting transient motions of the atmosphere were displayed by means of a motion picture produced by digital techniques. Computed ground-level barograms resulting from a ground-level explosion compare well with experimental barograms recorded during ground-level nuclear explosions.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0478724

Entities

People

  • T. A. Potemra

Organizations

  • Stanford University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Waves
  • Altitude
  • Computer Programming
  • Computers
  • Crystal Lattices
  • Difference Equations
  • Differential Equations
  • Gravity Waves
  • Ground Level
  • Mechanical Waves
  • Motion Pictures
  • Nuclear Explosions
  • Shock Waves
  • Transmission Lines
  • Two Dimensional
  • Wave Propagation
  • Waveforms

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science
  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Computer Engineering
  • Control Systems Engineering.