Absorption of Low Frequency Sound in a Homogeneous Atmosphere,

Abstract

This is an elementary review of the classical and molecular theory of the absorption of sound, with particular attention to the absorption of frequencies less than 1000 cps in the atmosphere from sea level to 50 km. The variation of the theoretically predicted absorption with the meteorological parameters--pressure, temperature, and humidity--is investigated. Recent work involving absorption due to radiation is included. The absorption has been calculated for various altitudes, humidities, and frequencies. These data are presented in tabular form in the appendix. Although the absorption varies in a rather complicated manner with the meteorological parameters, it is found to be quite small for the very low frequencies, resulting in a predicted long distance propagation with small attenuation if the geometry of propagation is advantageous. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1959
Accession Number
AD0730700

Entities

People

  • E. Alan Dean

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption
  • Altitude
  • Atmospheres
  • Attenuation
  • Frequency
  • Geometry
  • Humidity
  • Radiation
  • Sea Level
  • Very Low Frequency

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.