Acoustic Tomography of the Atmospheric Surface Layer

Abstract

Acoustic tomography of the atmospheric surface layer (ASL) is based on the measurements of the travel times of sound propagation between speakers and microphone which constitute a tomography array. The travel times are then used as input parameters in the inverse algorithms for reconstruction of temperature and wind velocity fields. In this project, we have continued our long-term theoretical and experimental studies of acoustic tomography of the ASL. The inverse algorithms for the tomographic reconstruction were modified and extended. In particular, two algorithms were developed for the assessment and elimination of the systematic errors in the travel-time measurements. The algorithms were applied for the reconstruction of the turbulence fields from the travel times obtained with the acoustic tomography array at the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO). The BAO tomography array was also used for measurements of the area-averaged values of temperature, wind velocity, and horizontal heat flux. To improve a spatial resolution of an ultrasonic anemometer, it was suggested that one consider it is as a small acoustic tomography array and apply appropriate inverse methods for reconstruction of temperature and velocity. The upgrades of the BAO acoustic tomography array were completed and new experiments were carried out.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 28, 2014
Accession Number
ADA625855

Entities

People

  • Alfred J. Bedard
  • Vladimir E. Ostashev

Organizations

  • University of Colorado Boulder

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Signals
  • Acoustic Tomography
  • Acoustics
  • Algorithms
  • Boundary Layer
  • Data Acquisition
  • Engineering
  • Heat Flux
  • Layers
  • Measurement
  • Numerical Analysis
  • Simulations
  • Stratified Fluids
  • Students
  • Transfer Functions
  • Travel Time
  • Wind Velocity

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Medical Imaging.
  • Seismology