Acoustic Travel-Time Tomography of the Atmosphere at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory
Abstract
Acoustic tomography of the atmospheric surface layer (ASL) is based on measurements of travel times of sound propagation between speakers and microphones, which constitute a tomography array. The temperature and wind velocity fields inside the tomographic region affect the travel times and can be reconstructed using different inverse algorithms. An array for acoustic tomography of the ASL has recently been built at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO), CO, USA. The array consists of three speaker and five microphone towers located along the perimeter of a square with side length of 80 m. Speakers and microphones are connected via underground cables to the central command and data acquisition computer and other equipment located in a small modular building at the BAO. Using the BAO tomography array, the travel times of sound impulses between the speakers and microphones have been measured and analyzed. Subsequent reconstruction of the temperature and wind velocity fields is done with a recently developed time-dependent stochastic inversion. Examples of the reconstructed turbulence fields are presented and analyzed. Other developments in acoustic tomography are briefly discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 12, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA580449
Entities
People
- A. J. Bedard
- Christopher W. Fairall
- D. Keith Wilson
- Douglas E. Wolfe
- J. L. Leach
- K. A. Clark
- S. N. Vecherin
- V. E. Ostashev
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center