Analysis of acoustic wave fronts in the atmosphere to profile the temperature and wind with a radio acoustic sounding system

Abstract

Differential equations were introduced to analyze the acoustic wave fronts in the atmosphere. The wave fronts were found to make an ellipsoid whose major principal axis tilts at an angle of about 45° to the leeward. Utilizing this result, a radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) was used to measure the temperature and wind profiles to heights of over 23 km even under strong wind conditions. The profiles agree with those obtained from a radiosonde and a Doppler radar. The discrepancies are only about 0.5 °C in the air temperature and 1 m/s in the wind speed. The experiments show that the analytical result of the acoustic wave fronts is effective not only in the troposphere but also in the stratosphere. The analysis also shows quantitatively that acoustic waves propagate over the horizon to leeward.